Hand Prosthesis with a Sense of Touch

Dec-16-13 Researchers have developed an interface able to convey an impressive sense of touch from an array of locations on a prosthetic hand.

The technology, developed at MIT, features a custom interface called a cuff electrode, which contains and gently flattens the three nerve bundles in the arm to maximize surface area. Three cuffs are implanted inside the arm, where they deliver electrical signals from the prosthetic to nerve fibers to simulate the sense of touch. The interface is able to convey tactile information from 20 spots on a prosthetic hand.

The implants also continue to function after 18 months, which is significant because electrical interfaces to nerve tissues have shown the tendency to degrade in performance.

More Info about this Invention:

[TECHNOLOGYREVIEW.COM]
[MEDAGADGET]

---