A SUSTAINABLE APPROACH TO DESIGNING A BIRD WING PROSTHESIS

Raptors are some of the most threatened birds around the globe, with 18% of raptor species being in danger of extinction and 52% with declining populations. Many birds that are brought into rescue centers with a complicated wing injury must be euthanized. In very rare cases, such birds may alternatively have their wing amputated, often leaving them grounded and unbalanced. Many raptors are endangered, and as predators at the top of their food chains, the loss of these birds from the ecosystem leads to severe environmental upheavals that can affect the daily lives of people. Thus, euthanasia and rehabilitation are not sustainable solutions with regards to raptors with broken wings. Alternatively, this study proposes a transhumeral prosthetic wing that can allow amputee raptors to potentially fly again. A series of biomechanical analyses were performed along with a material analysis to create a three-dimensional model of a prosthetic wing. An analysis of forces and flapping gait during flight was conducted, which, to our knowledge, has not previously been done. Environmentally friendly polymers that consist of PLA and beta-keratin were assessed to determine feasibility in a wing prosthesis. A finite element analysis (FEA) was performed and revealed that the sustainable PLA and beta-keratin material has sufficient mechanical properties to withstand the kinetics of extended flight, improving the model's structural integrity.