In the new breakthrough in prosthetic technology , researchers in Italy have unveiled a machinelike hand that is magnetically controlled . There are no wires or electrical cable length to be seen here – instead , the wearer directs the movements of the fingers with just their mind and the top executive of attraction .
The gimmick has been taken for a six - hebdomad examination drive by 34 - year - old Daniel , who lose his left over mitt in September 2022 : “ I suddenly witness myself without a mitt : one moment I had it and the next moment it was get , ” he recounted in astatement . Daniel was the perfect candidate to try out the automatonlike hand as he still has ascendence over the muscle that move the fingers in his left hand and has somephantomsensation persist .
“ There are 20 muscles in the forearm and many of them control the hand drive . Many people who have lost a hired hand keep on feel it as if it is still in position and the residual muscles move in reply to the commands from the brain , ” explained squad lead Professor Christian Cipriani of the BioRobotics Institute at the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna in Pisa .
Daniel uses the hand to open a jar.Image credit: © 2024 Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna
Six magnets were implanted into Daniel ’s weapon system in April 2023 , cautiously tailor within the muscle so that all the magnetised field pointed in the same direction . The Mia Hand robotic manus , developed by Prensilia , was mounted on a carbon vulcanized fiber socket contain all the electrical organization , so there are no seeable wires once the prosthesis is in place .
The technology the prosthesis runs on is called myokinetic command . When the muscles in the arm contract bridge , the magnet move , and this movement is algorithmically translate into a dictation for the automatic manus to execute .
For the team , the results were quite dumfounding . Daniel was able-bodied to do tasks with the robotic hired hand that require coordination and fine motor controller , such as opening a jar , conclude a vigour , and cutting with a knife . He was also capable to adapt the force applied by the finger’s breadth , allow for him to manage finespun and breakable physical object .
Daniel operates a clothespin with the hand.Image credit: © 2024 Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna
“ This system allowed me to go back lose whizz and emotion : it feel like I ’m move my own hand , ” Daniel say . As endorsements go , they do n’t come much better than that . Bolstered by this achiever , Cipriani say , “ We are quick to extend these results to a broader range of amputation . ”
Improvingsensationin prosthetic limbs is a major goal for scientist act in the playing field . We ’ve make out a longsighted way from theearliest attemptsatlimb replacement , and today’sbioniccreations can reach a level ofmovementand mastery that would once have been deemed impossible . This magnetically controlled hand is another telling innovation .
“ To see the piece of work of days of inquiry realised in this study was a great emotion , ” said first source Marta Gherardini . “ Working together with Daniel has given us the awareness that we can do a lot to improve his life and the lives of many other citizenry . This is the groovy motivation that drives us to continue our work and to always do better . ”
The bailiwick is published in the journalScience Robotics .
