Medicine & healthcare

Study: New Prosthetic Hand Lets Amputee Sense Temperature

FEB 11 2024·Updated FEB 12 2024

Story

Image credit: Stanislav Ivanov/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images

The Facts

Scientists have developed a functional artificial limb with fingertip sensors that can deliver realistic thermal information to an amputee's residual limb, which the brain interprets as being still attached to the original hand.
Smithsonian Magazine
Following the recent discovery of phantom thermal sensations in amputees, scientists integrated a standalone system into a robotic prosthetic hand to allow it to feel and respond to hot and cold temperatures.
MED
According to a study published last week in the journal Med, the "MiniTouch" device — which allowed a 57-year-old trans-radial amputee to distinguish objects of different temperatures manually — can be easily integrated with commercially available prosthetic limbs without surgery.
Medicalxpress
In an experiment, the study participant reportedly could identify hot, cold, or ambient bottles with total accuracy with his modified prosthetic. However, his accuracy dropped to a third when the device's thermal sensor was turned off.
New Scientist
Prof. Silvestro Micera said that the scientists are "really close to restoring the full palette of sensations to amputees." The team next aims to allow amputees to feel sensations from multiple points — not just the index finger as is in the current version.
Good News Network
He added that the "big next step" is to create a single wearable system to enable amputees to experience pressure, texture, position, temperature, and wetness.
Guardian

Sources Split

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The Spin

Narrative A

With one of the last sensory frontiers of bionic limbs — temperature — now within sight, amputees are a step closer to living a fuller life. It gives individuals who have suffered dismemberment a stronger "this hand is mine" sense. This is taking it closer to its full potential — especially when added dexterity of the prosthetic is factored in. Once the safety requirements are met, a whole new life will open up for amputees.

www.elsevier.com

Narrative B

While the past decade's growth and innovations in the field of prosthetics have been phenomenal, this evolution also calls for a bird's-eye view of where this medical technology is headed. A critical analysis at this stage will help the field in its next steps to master and integrate these innovations. It's vital to build a solid framework in the medical industry to help these medical inventions reach their full promise.