Dennis Aabo Sorensen wears an artificial hand enabled for sensory feedback. He is the first amputee to be able to feel objects with a special prosthetic device that communicates with his nervous system through electrodes in his arm.
Hand gives sense of touch to amputee —
Dennis Aabo Sorensen wears an artificial hand enabled for sensory feedback. He is the first amputee to be able to feel objects with a special prosthetic device that communicates with his nervous system through electrodes in his arm.
LifeHand 2/Patrizia Tocci
Sorensen's experience with the hand was documented in a February 2014 study in the journal Science Translational Medicine.
Hand gives sense of touch to amputee —
Sorensen's experience with the hand was documented in a February 2014 study in the journal Science Translational Medicine.
LifeHand 2/Patrizia Tocci
The prosthetic hand cannot be used to feel objects outside the of the laboratory setting.
Hand gives sense of touch to amputee —
The prosthetic hand cannot be used to feel objects outside the of the laboratory setting.
LifeHand 2/Patrizia Tocci
"Maybe we were able to restore in some way something close to the natural sensation, which makes the job of the brain to understand what is happening easier," said Silvestro Micera, senior author of the study.
Hand gives sense of touch to amputee —
"Maybe we were able to restore in some way something close to the natural sensation, which makes the job of the brain to understand what is happening easier," said Silvestro Micera, senior author of the study.
EPFL / Hillary Sanctuary
Sensors in the tendons of the artificial hand detect information about touch.
Hand gives sense of touch to amputee —
Sensors in the tendons of the artificial hand detect information about touch.
LifeHand 2/Patrizia Tocci
Researchers surgically implanted electrodes in nerves in Sorensen's left arm so that he could use the hand to feel in a natural way.
Hand gives sense of touch to amputee —
Researchers surgically implanted electrodes in nerves in Sorensen's left arm so that he could use the hand to feel in a natural way.
LifeHand 2/Patrizia Tocci
When relying on visual cues alone, Sorensen could not gradually change how hard he squeezed an object; he could apply only no force or maximum force. It was easier to control his grip using touch-based sensory information.
Hand gives sense of touch to amputee —
When relying on visual cues alone, Sorensen could not gradually change how hard he squeezed an object; he could apply only no force or maximum force. It was easier to control his grip using touch-based sensory information.
LifeHand 2/Patrizia Tocci
Researchers hope to use this principle to create a prosthetic hand system that allows amputees to feel touch outside of the laboratory, too.
Hand gives sense of touch to amputee —
Researchers hope to use this principle to create a prosthetic hand system that allows amputees to feel touch outside of the laboratory, too.
LifeHand 2/Patrizia Tocci