Articles tagged with Hands
Researchers create custom-fit prosthetic hands with soft magnetic sensors that capture subtle changes in muscle shape and pressure. The system performs consistently and reliably, translating intent into control of a dexterous robotic hand with up to 90% accuracy.
Researchers developed an innovative noninvasive technique that combines ultrasound and photoacoustic imaging to capture images of both tissue and blood vessels. The technology has the potential to address current gaps in medical imaging, providing faster and more comprehensive imaging at meaningful depths.
Research on 1,000 older Japanese adults found that declining hand function significantly increases the risk of requiring long-term care. Hand function below a certain threshold was associated with an increased risk, highlighting its importance for daily activities and overall health.
A systematic review of hand and wrist injuries among UK dog walkers estimates the annual cost to be over £23 million. Women and older adults are disproportionately affected by leash-related injuries.
A team of researchers, led by Jean-Paul Noel, has discovered that the brain's motor area largely coincides with the onset of intention. The study used a brain-machine interface to separate intentions from actions in a paralyzed participant, revealing a compressed temporal binding between intention and action.
University of Cincinnati researchers, in collaboration with end users, develop a user-centered, easy-to-use assistive device to help restore hand grasping motions. The team aims to combine an exoskeleton device with functional electrical stimulation (FES) technology to create a hybrid system.
Researchers at Florida Atlantic University developed an innovative real-time ASL interpretation system using AI and deep learning. The system achieved a 98.2% accuracy rate with minimal latency, enabling fast and reliable performance for applications such as live video processing and interactive technologies.
A new method of biometric authentication has been developed using hyperspectral imaging and AI to identify individuals through the unique patterns in their blood vessels on the palm of their hand. The technology shows great promise for secure personal identification and could potentially be used as a key to unlock homes.
Researchers studied whether transcranial direct current stimulation could enhance constraint-induced movement therapy for post-stroke motor recovery. The study found no significant improvement in motor skills, despite using three doses of electrical stimulation on 129 stroke survivors. Future trials aim to address limitations and impro...
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.
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...
A new method has improved AI translation of sign language by adding data on hand and facial expressions, as well as skeletal information. This has led to a significant increase in accuracy, making it easier for people with hearing impairments to communicate.
Researchers at Waseda University found that somatosensory electrical stimulation on the wrist can bias subsequent motor decisions, increasing the likelihood of using the stimulated hand. This phenomenon highlights a connection between sensory input and motor choices, with potential implications for individuals with motor impairments.
Researchers from Florida Atlantic University developed an AI system that accurately detects and tracks American Sign Language alphabet gestures using computer vision. The model achieved a detection process with high accuracy, recognizing complex hand gestures with an F1 score of 99% and mAP of 98%.
A new system combining high-speed video and an AI algorithm can detect high blood pressure and Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes from subtle changes in blood flow, potentially leading to early detection and treatment. The technology is still in its preliminary stages but holds promise for non-invasive monitoring of health at home.
Researchers developed a new algorithm to decode neural signals representing hand postures, enabling more precise control of neuroprostheses. The study, conducted on rhesus monkeys, shows that posture-related activity in the primate grasping circuit is crucial for accurate control.
Researchers at University of Pittsburgh discover that deep brain stimulation instantly improves arm and hand strength and function weakened by traumatic brain injury or stroke. The therapy stimulates the motor thalamus, a key relay hub of movement control, and significantly improves activation of muscles and grip force.
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.
Researchers found that touch sensitivity declines only in hairless skin regions with age, such as the hands, while hairy areas like cheeks remain sensitive. The study suggests that hairy skin may act as an antenna to transmit mechanical stimuli and preserve touch sensitivity.
Researchers at German Primate Center investigated how rhesus monkeys encode target positions in arm movements, finding that brain areas can switch between body- and object-related spatial reference systems depending on the task. This flexible coding is essential for developing neuroprostheses that can interpret brain signals correctly.
Italian speakers gesture more frequently than Swedes when retelling a story, using pragmatic gestures to present new parts of the narrative. Swedes instead rely on representational gestures to convey events and actions, indicating differing rhetorical styles and ways of conceptualizing narratives.
Researchers developed a custom-built, low-cost mesoscope that can adapt to different neuroimaging experiments in live mice and rats. The system offers excellent spatial and temporal resolutions, achieved through its reversible tandem lens configuration, which enables flexible experimentation.
A recent study by Swansea University analyzed the link between digit ratio and oxygen consumption in professional football players. The research found that athletes with longer ring digits relative to their index fingers had more efficient oxygen metabolism, reaching high maximal oxygen consumption during a cardiopulmonary test.
A new study found that combining brain stimulation with intense physical rehabilitation helped stroke survivors recover movement in their arms and hands and maintain these improvements for one year. The pairing of rehabilitation therapy with vagus nerve stimulation likely helps the brain strengthen new neural pathways.
Scientists unveiled a spatial cell atlas of the entire developing human limb, capturing intricate processes governing rapid development. The study uncovers new links between developmental cells and congenital limb syndromes, such as short fingers and extra digits.
A study in the October issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery found higher rates of mutilating hand injuries and amputations with side-by-side UTVs compared to all-terrain vehicles. UTV riders had three times the amount of mutilating injuries and nearly ten times the amount of amputations.
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.
Researchers developed a groundbreaking soft valve technology that integrates sensors and control valves into soft robots, eliminating the need for electric components. This innovation enables safe operation underwater or in environments with sparks risks, reducing weight burdens and costs.
A recent study found that cast immobilization is as effective as surgery in treating older adults with arm fractures. After one year, no statistically significant differences were found between the groups in terms of disability or range of motion. The study included 276 patients aged 70–89 years who suffered a distal radius fracture.
Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed a robotic gripping device that can handle ultrasoft, ultrathin, and heavy objects with excellent balance of strength, precision, and gentleness. The design uses kirigami and can be fabricated from biodegradable materials.
A new study using mass spectrometry analyzed hand scent compounds from 60 individuals and achieved a 96.67% accuracy rate in predicting sex. The analysis can be used to uncover details about a potential perpetrator, such as age and racial or ethnic group, when other evidence is lacking.
Researchers found broad similarities in how deaf homesigners and hearing adults describe tool-related events, suggesting universal aspects of human thinking. The study suggests that these similarities reflect the extent to which a tool shapes the object it is being used on.
Researchers from City University of Hong Kong developed an advanced wireless haptic interface system called WeTac. The system provides a vivid touch experience with personalized tactile sensation data and overcomes the shortcomings of existing bulky gloves.
Researchers at UT Austin developed a graphene-based e-tattoo that tracks electrodermal activity on the palm, enabling unobstructive ambulatory sensing. This technology reduces social stigma and provides accurate readings, addressing limitations of current bulky devices.
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.
A study found that resiliency and family support play a crucial role in helping Hispanic breast cancer survivors manage lymphedema. Adaptations such as modifying work tasks and seeking support from family members enable survivors to maintain their quality of life.
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.
A team of researchers, led by Virginia Tech, has engineered a glove that mimics the arm of an octopus, capable of securely gripping objects underwater. The Octa-glove uses soft, responsive adhesive materials and embedded electronics to grasp objects without squeezing.
A new study found that people with severe speaking difficulties pay more attention to hand gestures when their verbal communication is impeded. This highlights the importance of incorporating gestures into therapy for individuals with aphasia.
A new study published by the American Heart Association found that sitting Tai Chi exercises improved short-term outcomes in stroke survivors with hand and arm weakness or partial paralysis. The modified sitting routine showed benefits in balance, coordination, strength, and flexibility, making it an effective option for these patients.
A six-year research project aims to develop an online programme providing support, information, and tailored exercise plans for managing musculoskeletal diseases. The Digital – My Arm Pain Programme (D-MAPP) will guide participants in managing their condition through the lived experience of those affected.
Researchers have designed a tiny and flat antenna for receiving and transmitting terahertz signals, enabling the miniaturization of THz devices. The new design integrates the antenna with the system, eliminating the need for bulky silicon lenses and reducing optical power required.
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.
A large study comparing the brains of left-handers and right-handers found significant differences in brain asymmetry across ten regions. The research also discovered a link between genetic influences on handedness and brain asymmetries in language-related regions.
Researchers discovered how neurons in a small area of the brain filter distracting signals to coordinate dexterous movements. The findings may hold lessons for building better prosthetics and robots that can fine-tune their movements based on sensory input.
A study reveals that Eurasian jays are susceptible to illusions using fast movements, similar to humans. However, the birds are more influenced by observable motions than expected motions, differing from human perception.
A brain-computer interface that mimics tactile sensation has significantly improved robotic arm control for a person with tetraplegia, performing tasks comparable to able-bodied humans. The new system, which reads and writes neural activity, reduces trial times by half compared to previous versions.
A study published in The Lancet found that patients who incorporated vagus nerve simulation during physical or occupational therapy showed a significant improvement in arm and hand function, up to 2-3 times more than those with sham stimulation. This breakthrough could be one of the most impressive advances in decades for stroke patients.
A new system enables robots to recognize human workers and predict their poses, providing a safer and more efficient working environment. This allows robots to work side-by-side with humans on assembly lines without unnecessary interruptions.
A 4.4 million-year-old skeleton could show how early humans moved and began to walk upright, according to new research led by a Texas A&M University professor. The study found evidence of an 'evolutionary jump' between the hand of Ardi and all later hominin hands, including that of Lucy's species.
Researchers at the University of Chicago challenged a popular theory on neural population dynamics, finding different activity patterns in the motor cortex for reaching and grasping behaviors. The study, published in E-Life, revealed less orderly neuronal activity patterns during grasping motions compared to reaching movements.
Israeli archaeologists discover that the inner-rim diameter of storage jars in Israel over 350 years conformed to the palm width of a male hand, matching the original biblical measurements of tefach. The consistent measurement may reflect ancient potters' use of palm as a standard diameter for jar openings.
A study found that brain pulses emerge after an immobilizing illness or injury, activating main motor circuits to reactivate upon mobility restoration. The discovery may lead to advancements in treating patients with broken limbs or stroke survivors.
Researchers found that participants synchronized their arm movements with those of the vocalizer, even with subtle and hard-to-detect movements. The study suggests that musculoskeletal tensioning affects speech, allowing for communication cues like excitement to be perceived through gesture-induced acoustics.
Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology have developed mind-controlled arm prostheses that deliver sensations of touch, revolutionizing prosthetic technology. The new neuromusculoskeletal prosthesis is connected to the user's nerves, muscles, and skeleton, enabling patients with arm amputations to experience a sense of touch i...
Researchers at UC Santa Barbara find the skin's elasticity helps process tactile information, enabling efficient data compression. This discovery may lead to new prosthetic limb designs and improved tactile sensing for robots.
A study by York University researchers found that the brain's representation of the back and palm of the hand are different. The perceived width of the back of the hand changes depending on its orientation, but the palm's size is accurately judged.
A new app is being used to analyze anatomical differences in hands, with the goal of determining whether they are truly unique. The researchers aim to develop computer algorithms that can link suspects to crimes using images of their hands.
A team of researchers at the University of Washington has developed AuraRing, a wearable device that can detect precise finger movements and track hand orientation. This technology enables new applications in gaming, healthcare, and more.
Research reveals brain areas can be repurposed to process information from unrelated body parts, contradicting previous assumptions about body map limitations. Functional MRI scans showed unused hand regions activated by movements of other body parts, suggesting a more dynamic and adaptable brain network.