Researchers at the Cleveland Clinic US Academic Medical Center and scientists at the Canadian universities of Alberta and New Brunswick have developed a prosthesis that allows amputees to feel the touch of objects. The search result was published in the scientific journal Science Robotics.
Read more: Brazilian engineer creates anti-covid glasses for the blind
The system implanted in the bionic arm combines three functions that are very important for patients: intuitive motor control of the arm, tactile synesthesia and also the intuitive feeling when opening and closing the hand.
“We modified a standard prosthesis with a complex bionic system that allows users to move the mechanical arm more intuitively and experience both tactile and movement sensations,” says Paul Marasco, professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the Cleveland Clinic, in Release disclosed by the establishment.
This is possible because researchers have developed a neural-machine interface that connects to the remaining nerves of users’ limbs. From there, two techniques were used by scientists to promote the use of the material by patients.
The first of these is called sensory motor reinnervation. It allows users to move the mechanical prosthesis only when they are thinking of moving the arm.
The other technique is known as targeted sensory reinnervation. Thanks to it, amputee patients can have the sensation of touching different objects thanks to the activation of sensory receptors using the bionic arm.
The two people who tested the equipment had their upper limbs amputated and both performed common daily tasks in a very similar fashion to those who do not have amputated arms.
“With the new bionic member, people behaved like they had a natural hand. Normally, these cerebral behaviors are very different between people with and without upper limb prosthesis ”, underlines Marasco.
The Cleveland Clinic professional and Canadian university scientists point out that advances in the production of new prostheses are helping people who have had amputations have a faster and more comfortable reintegration into their daily activities.
* Intern of the R7 under the direction of Pablo Marques
“Coffeeaholic. Lifelong alcohol fanatic. Typical travel expert. Prone to fits of apathy. Internet trailblazer.”