Juan Arredondo, a U.S. soldier who lost his left hand in the Iraq war, demonstrates the functions of a new bionic prosthetic limb on July 23, 07, in New York, U.S.
A bionic hand that can perform complex maneuvers not possible with normal prosthetics is the first to go on sale in Britain. According to the British newspaper "Daily Mail" reported on the 20th, this bionic hand called i-LIMB can allow users to smoothly open locks, enter passwords, open cans and other fine movements, as flexible as the real hand.
The i-LIMB bionic hand is manufactured by Livingstone "Bionic Contact" in Lothian, England, and developed
by Dr. David Gow of NHS Scotland Lothian.
The bionic hand is attached to the user's arm by means of an armband containing a rechargeable battery and a pair of electrodes. When the user has a thought about moving the hand, brain signals are collected by the electrodes in the armband. The electrodes transmit the brain signals to a miniature computer located on the back of the bionic hand, which in turn sends instructions to the motor nerves in the fingers to make them move.
The bionic hand is made of a lightweight plastic commonly used for automobile engine parts, weighing less than a real hand, and is covered with a layer of highly lifelike artificial skin that is aesthetically pleasing to the eye. Advanced Functions
Ordinary artificial hands usually have only one motor nerve, which can only accomplish some simple movements, making it difficult to meet the user's requirements for opening locks, entering passwords and other actions. The i-LIMB bionic hand has one motor nerve in each of its five fingers, so it can accomplish more delicate movements, which perfectly makes up for the shortcomings of similar products and brings great convenience to users.
The wrist of the bionic hand moves freely, and all 5 fingers can turn freely and move independently. It can smoothly complete the lock, lift the glass, dishes and other actions, even enter the password, open the cans of such a detailed action is not difficult to defeat it.
The new bionic hand is currently on sale in limited quantities, priced at ￡8,500 (about $17,000).