Prosthetic Limbs

Researchers challenge ‘propagation of medical equipment graveyards’ in Global South to help prosthetics patients

Direct nervous system link promises more natural leg prostheses

Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology successfully decoded leg movements directly from remaining nerves in people with above-knee amputations. This technology opens the way to future prostheses that feel and act like a natural part of the body, providing users with more control and sensory feedback.

Study reveals multiple types of post-amputation pain, each needing different treatment

Researchers identify three types of post-amputation pain: phantom limb pain, residual limb pain, and musculoskeletal pain, which behave differently and require personalized care. The study's findings suggest that prosthetic design can directly influence comfort during real-world movement, improving mobility and quality of life for indi...

Personal perception of body movement changes when using robotic prosthetics

Researchers found that participants initially overestimated the awkwardness of their gait but improved as they practiced using the prosthetic device. Despite significant performance gains, participants remained inaccurate in assessing their own body movement, focusing on torso position rather than prosthetic behavior.

Machine learning lends a helping ‘hand’ to prosthetics

A team of researchers has created an object identification system for prosthetic hands to guide appropriate grip strength decisions in real time. The system uses a camera and EMG sensor to determine the user's intent and predict the required grip strength, enabling users to focus on daily tasks without complex training or calibration.

New program at UT Health San Antonio delivers breakthrough care for limb loss patients

The new program combines limb preservation, amputation care, and reconstructive solutions like osseointegration to improve identity, functional outcome, and quality of life for patients. Patients will receive coordinated, personalized, and expert care that supports their recovery and promotes sustained overall health.

How modified robotic prosthetics could help address hip, back problems for amputees

A new algorithm developed by researchers at North Carolina State University can optimize the movement of robotic prosthetic devices and help users exhibit a more natural walking pattern. The algorithm improves hip range of motion and reduces lower back pain for all five study participants.

University of Houston assists in designing robotic hands for use in health, agriculture, manufacturing

The University of Houston is designing robotic hands with dexterity for industries such as healthcare, agriculture, and manufacturing. The team, part of the NSF Convergence Accelerator program, has received $5 million in funding to develop hybrid polymeric materials that can mechanically retract and perform motions like flexion.

Beyond the finish line at Cybathlon 2024: Omnia’s pilot performance and the role of teamwork

The Omnia bionic leg, developed by the Italian Institute of Technology, won the Cybathlon 2024 leg prosthesis race with its semipowered knee and ankle system. Andrea Modica, a transfemoral amputee and pilot of the device, successfully completed 9 out of 10 tasks in just 2 minutes and 57 seconds.

Robotic knee prosthesis: Advanced control algorithm could expand commercial leg's benefits

Researchers developed a new control algorithm that enables powered knee prostheses to mimic natural human motion, reducing tripping risks and strain on users' bodies. The study showed significant improvements in activities of daily living, such as sitting, standing, walking, and climbing stairs.

The importance of a leader–follower relationship for performing tasks

A study by Osaka Metropolitan University found that pairs outperformed individuals in a robotic arm-transporting task when roles naturally emerged. Role specialization was key to superior performance, rather than paired interaction. The research has implications for human-robot collaboration and rehabilitation settings.

The exoskeleton for lower limbs “twin” wins the Compasso D’Oro International Award

The robotic exoskeleton TWIN has been awarded the Compasso d’Oro International Award for its innovative design and ability to adapt to different user needs. Developed by Rehab Technologies IIT – INAIL and ddpstudio, TWIN provides energy assistance to individuals with limited mobility, enabling them to stand, walk, and sit down.

New clinical trial to test sensory prostheses for people with upper-limb loss

Researchers at Case Western Reserve and the Cleveland VA are conducting a clinical trial to test sensory-enabled neural-controlled prostheses developed since 2015. The study will enroll 12 people with upper-limb amputation to compare standard prosthetic arms and hands to the sensory-enabled neural-controlled prostheses.

Data-driven designs to improve prosthetic legs

Researchers have developed a data-driven way to fit prosthetic legs that could lead to better fitting prosthetics in less time and at a lower cost. The new technology generates basic design recommendations instantly and has been shown to be as comfortable on average as those created by highly skilled prosthetists.

MIT researchers show a bionic knee integrated into tissue can restore natural movement

In a small clinical study, users of this prosthesis navigated more easily and said the limb felt more like part of their body. The new system is directly integrated with the user’s muscle and bone tissue, enabling greater stability and control.

NAU researchers launch open-source robotic exoskeleton to help people walk

Northern Arizona University researchers have developed an open-source robotic exoskeleton framework, OpenExo, which provides comprehensive instructions for building single- or multi-joint exoskeletons. The system helps overcome challenges in developing biomechanically beneficial and technologically advanced exoskeletons.

CU Anschutz develops first validated tool to measure performance in bone-anchored prosthesis users after amputation

The COLD-TUG test measures the time required for prosthetic donning and mobility in lower-limb amputation patients. Researchers found that patients with bone-anchored prostheses can don their prosthesis significantly faster, saving up to 61 seconds per session.

JMIR Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies invites submissions on advancing telerehabilitation research and innovation

The journal is seeking submissions to a new theme issue exploring the importance of telerehabilitation and future directions for the field. Researchers will focus on implementation challenges, health equity concerns, and emerging innovations like AI-driven personalized rehabilitation.

Artificial sense of touch, improved

Scientists develop brain-computer interface that allows users to design distinct tactile experiences for different objects, enabling them to guess the object by sensation alone. The study represents an important step towards creating a neuroprosthetic that feels pleasant and intuitive to use.

Combining signals could make for better control of prosthetics

A new study has found that combining signals from electromyography and force myography can improve the accuracy of prosthetic control. The researchers used a combination of these two techniques to classify hand gestures with high accuracy, outperforming both methods alone.

The hidden spring in your step

The study reveals that muscle fibers shorten as forces increase during fast hopping, allowing for faster motion. This counterintuitive behavior enhances leg stiffness, which could impact sports training, rehabilitation, and robotics.

New material allows amputees to adjust fit of prosthetic limbs throughout the day, using a smartphone

A new material called Roliner enables amputees to change the shape, volume, and stiffness of their prosthetic limbs' liners in real-time using their smartphone. This technology promises to revolutionize the fit of prosthetic limbs, transforming the lives of millions of amputees worldwide.

Feeling is believing: Bionic hand “knows” what it’s touching, grasps like a human

Johns Hopkins engineers developed a pioneering prosthetic hand that can grip and grasp everyday objects like a human, using a hybrid design that combines rigid and soft robotics. The system achieves 99.69% accuracy in handling objects of varying textures and materials.

Biohybrid hand gestures with human muscles

Researchers at the University of Tokyo developed a biohybrid hand that can move objects and mimic real-life forms, using multiple muscle tissue actuators created from lab-grown muscle tissue. The hand demonstrated its ability to perform complex gestures, including scissor motions, and showed signs of fatigue but recovered within an hour.

Towards a natural control of robotic limbs

Researchers at Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia and Imperial College London demonstrate the connection between hand movement patterns and motoneuron control patterns, enabling natural control of bionic limbs. The study reports successful testing of a soft prosthetic hand with individuals with physical impairments.

A new European excellence grant for the development of upper limb prosthetics

Antonio Bicchi's IIT-led project VSoftPro aims to create a transhumeral prosthesis with user-controlled stiffness and passive adaptability. The goal is to replicate the natural appearance and functionality of a human arm, enhancing safe and natural interactions.

Most advanced artificial touch for brain-controlled bionic hand

Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology have developed a unique method for encoding natural touch sensations via specific microstimulation patterns in implantable electrodes. This allows individuals with spinal cord injuries to feel tactile edges, shapes, curvatures and movements, enabling them to control a bionic arm with the...

IIT’s Leg Prosthetic technologies took the podium at Cybathlon 2024

IIT's Omnia prosthetic won the 'Leg Prosthesis' category at Cybathlon 2024, showcasing a novel lower limb prosthetic prototype designed for individuals with transfemoral amputations. The system features a knee and ankle that exchange information to adjust parameters for optimal performance.

Modeling the minutia of motor manipulation with AI

Researchers developed an AI-driven approach to model complex hand movements, overcoming current limitations in neuroscience and biomedical engineering. The model achieved a 100% success rate in controlling virtual Baoding balls, showcasing its strength in various challenging situations.

A prosthesis driven by the nervous system helps people with amputation walk naturally

A new surgical procedure reconnects muscles in the residual limb, allowing patients to receive proprioceptive feedback about their prosthetic limb's position. Seven patients who underwent this surgery were able to walk faster, avoid obstacles, and climb stairs more naturally than those with traditional amputations.

AI-powered exoskeleton enhances human locomotion, helps restores mobility

Researchers developed an AI-powered method to train robotic exoskeletons, enabling users to save energy while walking, running, and climbing stairs. The new approach allows for rapid development of exoskeleton controllers without lengthy human-involved experiments, offering promise for aiding individuals with mobility challenges.

People feel more connected to “tweezer-like” bionic tools that don’t resemble human hands

Researchers used virtual reality to test whether humans can feel embodiment toward prosthetic

Robotic nerve ‘cuffs’ could help treat a range of neurological conditions

Researchers developed tiny, flexible devices that can wrap around individual nerve fibers without damaging them. The robotic nerve cuffs are sensitive enough to grasp delicate nerves and only require tiny voltages to change shape.

A replacement for traditional motors could enhance next-gen robots

A new type of actuator uses springs and clutches to accomplish dynamic movements with a fraction of the energy used by traditional electric motors. The device has been tested in various motion tests and has shown significant power reduction, making it suitable for robots that need to perform complex tasks.

Towards a natural prosthetic hand: A study published in Med has developed a temperature-sensitive prosthetic limb that improves amputee interactions and feelings of human connection

A temperature-sensitive prosthetic limb has been developed to improve amputee interactions and feelings of human connection. Researchers have created a device called MiniTouch that provides realistic and real-time thermal feedback, enabling amputees to discriminate between objects of different temperatures and materials.

Temperature-sensitive prosthetic limb improves amputee dexterity and feelings of human connection

Researchers developed a device that allows amputees to sense and respond to temperature, improving dexterity and feelings of human connection. The 'MiniTouch' device enables active thermosensation during tasks requiring feedback between sensory and motor neurons.

Better prosthetics: $3M to develop more natural robotic leg control

A University of Michigan project aims to create a smoother experience for robotic prosthetic leg users, with renewed support from the National Institutes of Health. The team has developed a continuous modeling framework that mimics biomechanical impedance, enabling the leg to move seamlessly between different activities.

Spinal cord stimulation reduces pain, improves balance in people with lower limb amputation

Researchers have developed a spinal cord stimulation technology that restores sensation, improves function, and reduces phantom limb pain after trans-tibial amputation. The study showed significant improvements in balance control and gait stability, with an average 70% reduction in phantom limb pain.

New “injectable tissue prosthesis coupled with closed-loop bioelectronic system” to aid in damaged muscle/nerve regeneration and robot-assisted rehabilitation

Researchers from the Institute for Basic Science developed a novel approach to healing muscle injury using conductive hydrogels and robot-assisted rehabilitation. The injectable tissue prosthesis enhances gait in rodent models without nerve stimulation, while improving long-term muscle tissue regeneration.

UBC engineers develop breakthrough ‘robot skin’ in collaboration with Honda researchers

A new soft sensor developed by UBC and Honda researchers enables touch sensitivity and dexterity in robots, allowing them to pick up fragile objects like an egg or a glass of water. The sensor uses weak electric fields to sense objects, even at a distance, making it suitable for adoption in robots that interact with people.

Robotic prosthetic ankles improve ‘natural’ movement, stability

Researchers developed robotic prosthetic ankles controlled by nerve impulses, allowing amputees to move more naturally and improving stability. The study found that users were significantly more stable when using the robotic prototype, changing their postural control strategy and mimicking the body's behavior.

Groundbreaking achievement as bionic hand merges with user’s nervous and skeletal systems, remaining functional after years of daily use

A Swedish woman with a below-elbow amputation received a novel human-machine interface that integrates her residual limb with a bionic hand. The technology enables comfortable attachment and reliable control, relieving pain and improving daily life.

One-hour training is all you need to control a third robotic arm

Researchers at Queen Mary University of London and their colleagues have found that supernumerary robotic arms can be used as effectively as a partner, enabling tasks like opening doors while carrying packages. The study suggests these arms could aid people with various tasks, such as surgery or industrial work.

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory restores cold sensation in amputees’ phantom limbs

Researchers at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory developed a wearable thin-film thermoelectric cooler that enables amputees to perceive temperature sensations in their phantom limbs. The technology has practical applications for improved prostheses, haptics, and pain management.

Patterns of brain activity accurately predict tongue shape while feeding

A study from the University of Chicago uses machine learning to record intricate tongue movements and neural activity, revealing that brain patterns can accurately predict 3D tongue shape. This breakthrough could lead to brain-computer interface-based prosthetics for restoring lost functions of feeding and speech.

Limbitless Solutions selected for 2023 Unity for Humanity Grant

Limbitless Solutions has been selected as one of eight winners for the 2023 Unity for Humanity Grant. The organization will use $85,000 to develop its video game Quantum's Pursuit, which aims to empower children and adults with limb differences to learn how to use their bionic arms in a fun and engaging way.

‘Biohybrid’ device could restore function in paralysed limbs

Researchers developed a neural implant that restored limb function to amputees and paralysed individuals by integrating with the brain and nerve. The biohybrid device combines electronic components with reprogrammed muscle cells, preventing scar tissue formation and improving signal extraction.

Assistive tech project to enhance prosthetic sockets and speed-up rehabilitation for amputees

Researchers at the University of Bath are developing technology to photograph residual limbs remotely, enabling faster and more accurate prosthetic socket fittings. This project aims to improve rehabilitation outcomes and quality of life for amputees worldwide, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

Shirley Ryan AbilityLab receives department of defense grant for first-of-its-kind study on neurally controlled bionic legs with osseointegration

The study combines osseointegration, TMR, and pattern-recognition control to operate a fully powered bionic leg prosthesis, aiming to restore intuitive control and comfort for those with lower-limb amputations. The device has the potential to provide unprecedented control and comfort for users.

Hip muscle exercises could help amputees improve functional mobility

Researchers found that strengthening hip abductor muscles can provide effective compensation for weaknesses in knee extensor muscles, leading to improved mobility in people with below-the-knee amputations. The study tested the hypothesis in eight military personnel who had undergone a lower limb amputation and showed promising results.

FAU lands $1.2 million NSF grant to transform prosthetic hand control

Researchers at FAU aim to empower amputees to maximize their individual potential for controlling the full dexterity of artificial hands using a novel bimodal skin sensor and machine learning algorithms. The project will develop customized prosthetic sockets and training programs to overcome limitations with current sensing technology.

Magnetic sensors track muscle length

MIT researchers have developed a magnet-based system to track muscle length during movement, which could improve the accuracy of prosthetic limb control. The system uses small magnets implanted in muscle and measures distances between them using a credit-card-sized sensor.

Mind over matter: Helping amputees regain their independence

Researchers investigated direction of attentional focus in prosthetic training to improve motor learning in individuals with lower limb loss. The study suggests that current practice can be refined to enhance rehabilitation outcomes for amputees.

Brain-robot therapy reroutes motor pathway in stroke patients

Researchers discovered that brain-robot interfaces can reroute motor pathways around damaged areas in stroke patients, allowing for improved hand function and control. This breakthrough technology uses proprioceptive feedback to enhance communication between the brain and muscles.

Researchers develop new breath-driven concept set to transform access to hand prosthetics

A new breath-driven hand prosthesis offers a lightweight, low-maintenance option for children and those in low-resource settings. The device is powered by the user's breathing and provides simultaneous control and actuation, with minimal maintenance required.

Virtual co-embodiment of a joint body with left and right limbs controlled by two persons

A new 'joint avatar' study reveals that visual information predicting a partner's intentions significantly enhances sense of embodiment towards partner-controlled limbs during virtual co-embodiment. This finding may contribute to enhancing embodiment towards autonomous prosthetic limbs, reducing user discomfort related to lack of control.

Microfluidic-based soft robotic prosthetics promise relief for diabetic amputees

Researchers have developed a new type of prosthetic using microfluidics-enabled soft robotics that promises to greatly reduce skin ulcerations and pain in patients who have had an amputation between the ankle and knee. The prosthesis uses integrated pneumatic actuators to control fit, reducing volume changes and pressure ulcers.

Wearable, inexpensive robotic sleeve for lymphedema treatment

Researchers developed a soft robotic sleeve controlled with a microfluidic chip that reduces treatment cost, weight, and power consumption for lymphedema treatment. The device promotes fluid flow in the lymphatic system by sequentially inflating balloons and pushing fluid upwards.

Hybrid machine-learning approach gives a hand to prosthetic-limb gesture accuracy

Researchers developed a hybrid machine-learning approach combining CNN and LSTM to recognize complex hand gestures in prosthetic hands. The technique achieved far superior performance than traditional machine learning efforts, with an accuracy of over 80%, but struggled with certain pinching gestures.

Personalizing treatment for severe limb injuries

A team of scientists at the University of Missouri used small wearable sensors to gather data on how people with a traumatic hand amputation use a prosthesis versus a transplanted hand. The study found that hand transplant recipients exhibit a more balanced pattern of limb use, while prosthesis users rely heavily on their prosthetic hand.