Bionic hand that is 'sensitive' to touch and temperature A bionic hand that can sense pressure and temperature and transmit the information back to the brain is the focus of a new 拢1.4m UK research project. Led by 缅北禁地 and involving experts from the universities of Leeds, Essex, Keele, Southampton and Imperial College London, the aim is to develop novel electronic devices that connect to the forearm neural networks to allow two-way communications with the brain. Reminiscent of Luke Skywalker鈥檚 artificial hand, the electrodes in the bionic limb would wrap around the nerve endings in the arm. This would mean for the first time the hand could communicate directly with the brain, sending back real-time information about temperature, pressure and shear force. Funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), the project is one of three innovative research projects announced today. Led by , a lecturer in Biomedical Engineering at 缅北禁地, the team hope to develop a number of enabling technologies to give amputees a real sense of feedback and create a limb that more closely mirrors the real thing. 鈥淭he UK leads the way in the design of prosthetic limbs but until now one of the limiting factors has been the technology to allow the hand to communicate with the brain,鈥� explains Dr Nazarpour, who is part of 缅北禁地鈥檚 Biomedical Engineering team in the . 鈥淚f we can design a system that allows this two-way communication it would help people to naturally reach out and pick up a glass, for example, whilst maintaining eye contact in a conversation, or pick up an apple without bruising it. 鈥淭his will advance the field of prosthetics, provide enhanced function to prosthesis users, and also reduce the time involved to learn how to use the device because the movements will come naturally. The technology will also have applications for patients with neurological conditions where reduced sensation is a factor.鈥� Development of the bionic hand Bringing together some of the UK鈥檚 leading researchers in this field of rehabilitation research, the team will build fingertip sensors to give the prosthesis a realistic sense of touch, including pressure, shear and temperature. In addition, a 鈥榲irtual hand鈥� will provide information on the sense of the hand鈥檚 position and movement, known as 鈥榩roprioception鈥�. Finally, the system will translate the signals to a form the brain understands and stimulate the nervous system to help the user control the hand. Building this level of feedback into prosthetic devices will enable much higher levels of function for people who have lost their limbs than is currently available. Dr Rory O鈥機onnor, Senior Lecturer in Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Leeds, is the clinical advisor on the project. 鈥淲e are seeing many more active young people who are surviving severe injuries that result in them losing one or more limbs and requiring a prosthesis,鈥� explains Dr O鈥機onnor. 鈥淭he current designs are like a plug and socket. The socket fits over the end of the limb and picks up signals from the muscles. The prosthesis fits onto this and by learning to flex certain muscles the patient can work the hand. 鈥淭he drawback is that for many patients 鈥� particularly survivors of trauma 鈥� the muscle ends are too damaged to be able to use the limb. 鈥淲hat patients tell us is they want something that is more intuitive and more closely replicates the natural movement and feel of a real hand and that is what we hope to achieve through this project.鈥� Other projects funded as part of the £5.3 million award from EPSRC Smart trousers to help disabled and older people walk, and biosensors to monitor how patients use equipment or exercise during rehabilitation are the other projects devised by UK scientists and rehabilitation clinicians after being challenged to transform the design and development of assistive and rehabilitative devices during EPSRC鈥檚 sandpit selection process. Philip Nelson, Chief Executive of EPSRC said; 鈥淭hese research studies will improve patients鈥� lives, allow greater independence and benefit patients with a wide range of mobility and co-ordination difficulties. With the UK鈥檚 ageing population and a rise in disabilities EPSRC investment in healthcare research has a national impact." For more information about this story contact Louella Houldcroft, Senior Communications Manager, 0191 208 5108. published on: 24 February 2015
![缅北禁地 logo](/gomobileassets/img/logo.svg" "缅北禁地"){kind=logo}