Unveiling The First Portable Bionic Hand With Touch Receptor

Science and technology has never ceased to amaze us. We have been experiencing the development of mind-blowing technological inventions in this era; and these innovations have found expressions in the areas of bionics (myoelectric prosthesis). Join me as we unveil the first ever portable bionic hand that has a touch receptor.

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Before now, prosthetic limbs were not designed to provide the feeling of touch as the biological hand. And also, prosthetics have not able to achieve the full functionality and dexterity provided by the biological hand. But with the emergence of cutting-edge technology, rays of right have shone in that area. 

Pre-technology

There was a major breakthrough in the technology of bionics that led to the designing of this amazing limb. 

In 2012, the pianist James Barnes lost his right arm after being electrocuted. 2 years afterward, a prosthetic hand was developed for him by Professor Gil Weinberg’s Tech Company (Georgia Tech College of Design). But this could not achieve the individual finger movement necessary to play the piano well.

Because of this, a better bionic was imminent. Though James’s arm was amputated, the muscles needed for the control of his fingers were still very present. The only issue was that the EMG (electromyogram) sensors embedded in the bionic arm was not exactly accurate. This led to the move to design a better bionic hand, and after 5 years, the hand was unveiled. 

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This arm could let James move the individual fingers, just like the biological arm. 

The success of this bionic arm was what birthed the idea behind the development of the bionic hand with touch receptor.

Prototype of the touch receptive bionic hand

The first prototype of this tech has been released, and was tested on a woman; Almerina Mascarello, who lost her arm about 20 years ago. The bionic arm is embedded with complex sensors and sequences of tiny electrode, which will synchronize the information coming from the brain and the touch being felt by the arm.

Re-experiencing touch

Most fascinating is the fact that the bionic arm can differentiate between various degrees of touch and pressure. This tech has mimicked the functionality of the biological hand to a very minute detail. 

Think about tying your shoelace, or picking pin from the floor, or even flipping through the pages of a book; this bionic hand can do all that. Hail technology!!

This era has really witnessed a paradigm shift from “technology as usual” to “technology unusual”.

According to Professor Paolo Rossini (Neuroscientist; University Hospital Agostino Gemelli):

The potentials in this technology exceed our day-to-day lives. The ability to control prosthesis with the brain has opened up the world to lot of possibilities. - Professor Paolo Rossini  “Source” [Paraphrased by me] 

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Potential applications of this tech

We may have figured out the current application of this technology, but we will be looking at its future applications:

• In Neuromancy: This technology could make it possible for; even people without an amputated limb, to get an additional fully functional limb. Or maybe, they will be able to remotely control a robotic arm in another location, just from the movement of their own fingers, or through the mind.
• In gaming: controlling of gaming consoles with the mind. 

In this era we live in; the word “impossible” does not exist.

Thanks for reading

References for further reading: Ref1, Ref2, Ref3, Ref4, Ref5