Control the machine hand with thought

Thanks to a special machine hand, an Italian young man can still perform complicated movements despite losing his left forearm.

Pierpaolo Petruzziello focuses his thoughts on controlling the hand on the rack through electrodes.Photo: AP.

Pierpaolo Petruzziello, 26, lost his left forearm three years ago. AP said, Campus Bio-Medico University in Rome, Italy invited him to participate in the test of hands called LifeHand, which they built last year. During the trial (a month long), Petruzziello felt his lost hand seem to grow back, even though the mechanical hand was not attached to the body.

'LifeHand control is entirely dependent on your ability to focus your thoughts. When I consider it a lost hand, things become much easier , 'he said.

The neuroscientists at Campus Bio-Medico University have done many similar experiments before, but Petruzziello was the first to be able to 'capture' LifeHand to perform complex movements.

At a press conference in Rome yesterday, the team said they implanted electrodes into nerve cells in the rest of Petruzziello's left arm. LifeHand connects indirectly to the guy's body through electrodes. Scientists also showed a video to show that Petruzziello used thoughts to command the machine hand.

A researcher took a picture with the machine hand.Photo: AP.

According to AP, during the experiment, Petruzziello learned to control the movement of each machine finger. He also practiced many other movements such as spreading his hands, grasping objects.

Neurologist Paolo Maria Rossini, a member of the research team, said the European Union has funded 2 million euros (3 million USD) for a hand-machine project. The research process took place over 5 years. Rossini said that Petruzziello only took a few days to master LifeHand. When the test is about to end, it follows the boy's order in 95% of the cases.

Petruzziello, now living in Brazil, says that the machine hand works very accurately.

'I feel it is like a real arm, even when holding a needle. You can't imagine the things I did with it , 'said Petruzziello.

Engineer Silvestro Micera, a member of the research team, said that although the test only lasted for a month, it was the longest time the electrode was attached to the human body.

Experts assess the test for Petruzziello is an important step in an effort to create interaction between the nervous system and artificial limbs. But the biggest challenge is ensuring that LifeHand can be attached to the human body for many years, not just a month.