Prosthetic

22:38 December 8, 2009 PST

Eric Jones shows off his ProDigits bionic fingers

The fact that the hand is such a debilitating body part to lose has spurred researchers to develop a functional and aesthetically pleasing bionic replacement. While seemingly not as severe as the loss of an entire hand, the loss of fingers can be just as much of a hindrance and represents the largest group of arm amputees. Short of removing the remaining partial hand, there has been no bionic option available to replace missing fingers. Now, the same company responsible for the i-LIMB Hand has addressed this deficit with the launch of ProDigits, the world’s first powered-bionic finger. Read More

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

SmartHand brings movement AND touch to amputees

By Darren Quick

02:49 November 5, 2009 PST

The SmartHand and its first human subject, Robin af Ekenstam

Scientists have successfully wired a state-of-the-art artificial hand to existing nerve endings in the stump of a severed arm. Its creators say the device, called “SmartHand,” resembles a real hand in function, sensitivity and appearance. In order to develop such an intelligent artificial prosthetic hand with all the basic features displayed by a real one, the SmartHand team integrated recent advances in nanobioscience, cognitive neuroscience and information technologies. Read More

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

Bioengineered scaffold could restore sense of touch to prosthetic limbs

By Darren Quick

00:15 October 15, 2009 PDT

Thankfully prosthetic technology has come a long way since 1944 - the latest developments...

Existing robotic prostheses have limited motor control, provide no sensory feedback and can be uncomfortable to wear. In an effort to make a prosthesis that moves like a normal hand, researchers at the University of Michigan have bioengineered a scaffold that is placed over severed nerve endings like a sleeve and could improve the function of prosthetic hands and possibly restore the sense of touch for injured patients. Read More

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

‘Mixed reality’ patient helps medical students with intimate exams

By Sandra Arcaro

17:47 August 12, 2009 PDT

Medical students conduct simulated breast exams on a 'mixed reality' patient

Routine physical examinations of a more intimate nature may become a little less awkward and a little more precise according to a team of engineering students from the University of Florida. The team's design of a ‘mixed reality’ human patient could be the answer in managing this delicate aspect of bedside manner. The mixed reality human is named Amanda Jones and she exists, in both virtual and physical form, as a life-sized cyberspace image on a flat screen, and as a mannequin with a prosthetic breast. Her purpose is noble: to help train medical students to conduct intimate breast exam procedures. Read More

Prosthetic

Touch Bionics launches world’s first bionic finger

SmartHand brings movement AND touch to amputees

Bioengineered scaffold could restore sense of touch to prosthetic limbs

‘Mixed reality’ patient helps medical students with intimate exams