Another step closer to bionic replacement parts
Replacement limbs have generally been somewhat useful objects. Sure, there are hooks, and some bio-mechanical hands, and much better legs now, but true bionics have eluded us, until now:
Touch Bionics announced Tuesday what it calls the world’s first commercially available bionic hand, a prosthetic hand that moves more naturally than traditional prostheses and can hold awkward or delicate objects. While most prostheses today can open and close, allowing people to grasp some items, they lack the detailed movements of a natural hand. The i-Limb Hand gets one step closer to that natural movement, with motors in each finger that make it possible to move individual fingers and form several different grips. Source: Photos: Bionic hand gets thumbs-up | CNET News.com
This is more photo essay than science article, but do read it all. It’s inspiring really. The ability of have light tough, strong grip, multiple digit positions. Very, very cool stuff. Touch Bionics is even making ones that don’t look like Terminator hands, but real hands. Very hard to tell the difference in the pictures!
Just awesome.
July 23rd, 2007 at 12:31 pm
Oh man, I hope they hurry up with these, I really need bionic knees!!
July 25th, 2007 at 10:32 am
Very cool. There was a peice on the news the other day about a new metal that actually bonds successfully with the bone which will allow this to be much more seemlessly integrated with your natural skeleton.
It’s in public animal trials ATM.
July 25th, 2007 at 10:52 am
Wait … metal the molecularly bonds with bone … that means I can become Wolverine! The metal probably isn’t adamantium is it? Dern.