Magnetically controlled hand prostheses

Main article: Bionic prostheses

2024: Product Announcement

In mid-September 2024, the world's first magnetically controlled hand prosthesis appeared based on an algorithm that converts muscle contractions into specific commands.

The project, developed by the research team of the Institute of Biorobototechnology in Pisa, allows you to accurately control the grip force and work even with fragile objects. The new prosthetic brush works without wires or electrical connections, relying solely on the magnets and muscles of the patient himself. This allows amputees to perform a variety of daily tasks, such as opening cans, using screwdrivers and collecting coins.

source = Pisa Biorobotology Institute

When developing the prosthesis, the researchers used a myokinetic control method, for which they implanted small magnets into the patient's muscles. This allows the prosthesis algorithm to interpret a person's intentions reflected in the tension of certain muscle groups: when the muscles contract, the magnets move, and the algorithm instructs the prosthesis to contract or open the fingers accordingly.

Twenty muscles are located in the forearm area to control hand movements. Many people who have lost a hand continue to feel it as a phantom, and the remaining muscles move in response to brain commands, the researchers explained. By matching the muscles and the movements they provided, they were able to create an algorithm to control the prosthesis.

The first patient was 34-year-old Italian Daniel: he was successfully implanted with six magnets integrated with a robotic arm. Mia-Hand Surgery included accurate preoperative imaging to determine viable muscles, as well as intraoperative adjustments to account for scarring. According to the researchers, the results of the experiment exceeded even the most optimistic forecasts. Daniel could move his fingers, lift and move objects of various shapes, use a kitchen knife and zip. In addition, he could adjust the compression force of the prosthesis when handling fragile objects.^[1]

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