Artificial hands are just like the real thing

John Hopkins University (UK) is testing some of the artificial arm samples they are trying to make it work like real hands. Doing that, scientists combined muscle - electronics with nerve connection.

An artificial prosthetic device is intended to replace the lost part of the body, possibly due to injury or congenital defects, or to support defective parts of the body. The Applied Physical Laboratory of Johns Hopkins University (Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory) developed an artificial arm sample.

This is the first artificial arm model to be truly perfected, can be controlled naturally and the level of freedom when the user controls is far beyond the sophistication of this arm. Its complete system also includes a virtual environment for patients to get used to, to record the movements of the prosthetic arm and control signals during the experiment.

Proto 1 arm (Photo: jhu.edu)

This arm is called Proto 1 , and is the latest in the history of making artificial limbs (arms or legs) for the human body.

The versatility of Proto 1's arm is due to Targeted Muscle Reinnervation technology (it should be understood to restore nerve function of specific muscle areas). This is a technique first tested by Dr. Todd Kuiken at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago.

This technique is to connect excess nerves from amputated arms to areas of low use and high compatibility with injury. And in this case, those nerves are connected to the chest area of ​​the patient. This treatment helps the sick person feel their prosthetics 'real', and allows them to feel the grip and impact with that arm.

The members of the research team are working hard to produce a second model, and hope to make the introduction later this summer. The second model is more flexible, and the power and speed are comparable to the real human arm. It is combined by more than 80 sensors for tactile, temperature and arm positions.

This is another technological advancement that can gradually diminish the line between people and machines.

Hands and hands (Photo: Softpedia)

Manh Duc