A Robot Hand Helps Amputees “Feel” Again

A Robot Hand Helps Amputees “Feel” Again

5 years ago
Anonymous $9jpehmcKty

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-robot-hand-helps-amputees-feel-again/

Your eyes may be reading this, but you likely used your hands to get here. Every day your fingers, wrists and forearms conduct the symphony of motor movements that allow you to click a mouse, type on a keyboard or swipe a screen. But what if you lost your hand? What kind of machine could restore your abilities to grip, click, tap or touch?

In a new study, a group of researchers at the University of Utah have re-engineered a prosthetic system to let a man whose hand was amputated feel a wide range of sensations, helping him physically grasp a variety of delicate objects, from a glass of wine to a single grape. Although other prosthetics have enabled wearers to receive sensory feedback, the modified system ramps up the subtle detection of sensation in the hand.