Sensory Feedback in Prosthetic Hand

The BBC recently reported on developments in prosthetic hand technology which include the addition of sensory feedback via a direct nerve interface. The research was part of the SMARTHAND project and was led by a team at Lund University, Sweden. According to CORDIS:

What is unique about the sophisticated prototype artificial hand developed by the SMARTHAND partners is that not only does it replicate the movements of a real hand, but it also gives the user sensations of touch and feeling. The researchers said the hand has 4 electric motors and 40 sensors that are activated when pressed against an object. These sensors stimulate the arm’s nerves to activate a part in the brain that enables patients to feel the objects. [CORDIS News]

The research strategy attempting to deepen the feedback and control may involve the use of nanotechnology to further miniaturise components of the interface between the hand and arm:

The hurdle they need to cross is to make the cables and electric motors smaller. Nanotechnology could help the team iron out any problems. Specifically, they would implant a tiny processing unit, a power source and a trans-skin communication method into the user of the hand to optimise functionality. [CORDIS News]

The story ran with the emphasis on the inclusion of sensory feedback. It often seems as though people are much more accepting of the mechanical side of prosthetic technologies than the sensory side (despite the availablility of cochleal implants). It seems to be a violation of intuition that adding sensory capacity might be the easy part of the problem - give a brain a signal and some feedback and it’ll detect patterns and correlate them with events in the world. It’s the giving of the signal and feedback that presents the greatest difficulties. It will be fascinating to watch for changes in what counts as intuitive as the availability of technologically mediated raw experience increases.

Sources: