Scientists from China and the United States have developed a soft and light neuroprothera hand, which are powered by a pneumatic system. The work of the researchers was published in the journal Nature Biomedical Engineering.
Despite the fact that modern neuroprotheses can already return the sensitivity to a person, for the most part they remain heavy (with a weighing more than 400 grams) and expensive (with a cost of more than 10 thousand dollars).
Development of researchers from the Massachusetts Technological University and Shanghai University of Jiao Tong made from Elastomer Ecoflex, and plastic palm is printed on a 3D printer. The artificial hand has five “inflated” fingers. The flexing allows a pneumatic system receiving information from electromyographic sensors. They are attached to the cult and register electrical activity from motor neurons – thereby allowing the prosthesis of the team from the brain. The control unit “Decreases” these signals and calculates the required pressure for a specific type of grip. The prosthesis with six degrees of freedom has the possibility of tactile feedback – the sensors on the tips of the fingers are connected to the cakes, which allows a person to light up.
Scientists experienced a prosthesis weighing at 292 grams on two volunteers with an amputation of the upper limb. Development, declare researchers, showed itself better in comparison with “rigid” counterparts, and one of the subjects learned to use the hand and in everyday life. On neuroprotheses, the accommodation components of which does not exceed $ 500, the patent is already filed, however, before entering the market, developers are recognized.