The i-LIMB Hand is one of the most compelling devices in the world prosthetics market," says Touch Bionics CEO Stuart Mead. "Since we launched it in July 2007 over 200 patients have been fitted with it all over the world - in just a few months it has evolved from an exciting new technology into a new benchmark in prosthetic devices."

It runs off myoelectric, or muscle, signals. Typically, surface electrodes, which look like silver buttons, sit on the person's arm muscles and pick up signals coming from those muscles. The hand is operated using a strap that goes across the back. By moving the arm, it operates a switch that tells that hand what to do. Grip strength and speed are controlled by software and are programmed into the hand based on the patients requirements.

If there isn't enough remaining muscle in the arm to use the myoelectric system, it can still be operated with a switch.
 

While most prosthetic hands are just able to open and close, the i-LIMB can form a number of different grips. Because the thumb rotates and each finger moves, it operates much more like an actual human hand.
 

It also looks more realistic, however its still othing like having a real hand back.
 

Because of the war in Iraq, a lot more research and development has been done for arm and hand prosthetics. The Department of Defense has awarded a number of grants in the area. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's goal is to develop in the next decade a fully functional upper limb that responds to direct neural control.




 

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

Name

Email

Comment

smaller | bigger

Subscribe via email (Registered users only)

I have read and agree to the Terms of Usage.

Add Comment