April 28, 2008
By combining new understanding of musculoskeletal signaling with advances in human-to-machine communication, the first multi-finger prosthesis known as the Bionic Hand System has been created. Prosthetic limbs of yesteryears have been largely limited by their unwieldy designs but the recent ones are becoming more and more life-like that even provides users with a more intuitive feel for their adopted limb.
The system uses existing nerve pathways to control individual computer-driven mechanical fingers. It consists of a standard plastic socket and silicone sensor that encases an amputee’s limb below the elbow. The fingers become biomimetic or movements done by normal volitional thinking, after a brief training period. This is because the system relies on the fact that much of the control structures originally operating the fingers are still present and controllable if tapped by the proper sensors.
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