Give it a SmartHand

Engineers have successfully developed a state-of-the-art artificial hand that can attach to existing nerve endings to function, feel and look like a real hand.

Tel Aviv University researchers from the Department of Engineering, working in conjunction with EU scientists, developed the SmartHand, which can be wired to the brain.

Project leader, Professor Yosi Shacham-Diamand, explained: "Perfectly good nerve endings remain at the stem of a severed limb. Our team is building the interface between the device and the nerves in the arm, connecting cognitive neuroscience with state-of-the-art information technologies.

"Our challenge was to make an electrode that was not only flexible, but could be implanted in the human body and function properly for at least 20 years."

SmartHand has four electric motors and 40 sensors which are activated when the hand touches an object. The researchers plan to equip it with an artificial skin that will give the brain even more tactile feedback.

The SmartHand project is funded by the EU’s Sixth Framework Programme.

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