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Sep 22, 2011

You Can Test Drive a Bionic Hand Without Actually Losing Your Hand

Bionics are an amazing technology that most of us will hopefully never have to use. But being able to move a robot hand with your brain is incredibly cool, and Touch Bionics' new Virtu-LIMB lets you try a bionic hand without "installing" it.

Virtu-limb works with either the i-LIMB Ultra—the update to the really awesome i-LIMB—or with some custom software that renders the hand's actions in real time. It works by gathering the same myoelectric signals that the bionic limb would normally gather from a patient, but routing it through a computer instead of a surgically attached limb.

The test drive feature has a few uses beyond just being a cool toy for nerdboys playing Terminator. It's good for helping determine which muscles are best suited to sending the prostheses myoelectric signals and helping to train patients to control muscle signals. And it can also be used by prospective patients before having the limb added. It's absolutely a really great technology, but I'm just wondering how long until some intrepid nerd tries it out and decides to replace a fully functional hand. More here.
 
 

13 comments:

Electric Addict said...

i'm glad the technology is out there at least

Sub Radar (Mike) said...

I could go for a hand replacement... never have to work out again, just have robot vice grip for the rest of forever. Next stop is downloading my consciousness into a HDD.

crazyneo said...

That is amazing... Reminded me of Crysis a bit :D

Outcast said...

Cool. I really want to go try this thing out now, looks awesome.

confictushome said...

that's pretty sweet. Robotics and prosthetics a match made in the future!

Anonymous said...

I have some ideas for this. >:3

Jegerbloggin said...

Sadly, growing up with Star Wars meant I was surprised we *didn't* already have this when I grew up! It's cool to see it's catching up! Really liked the camera from your last post as well!

DEZMOND said...

sounds futuristic!

Jazz bazooka said...

what if i want to lose an arm.... and me half robot...

Crazy Life of a Writing Mom said...

That is soooo awesome!

Enigmatic Vapor said...

Interesting. Thanks for the news!

Bloggerage said...

wow its amazing what they can do now1!

Atley said...

Crazy how reaility is slowly but surly catching up to science fiction. Terminator is not far off. haha. But I'm glad that those soldiers coming back might actually have a chance at getting new limbs.