The first prosthetic hand with individually moving fingers is now on the market. Think: Luke Skywalker at the end of The Empire Strikes Back. Myoelectric prosthetic arms and hands have sensors that pick up electric impulses from the muscles of the arm. Until now, those impulses have been able to open or close a hand, control grip strength, and rotate a wrist or elbow. But the i-Limb hand by Touch Bionics in Scotland has tiny motors for all four fingers and thumb. With it, amputees can pick up a coin, turn a key, punch keys on a cell phone, or lift a coffee mug.
Touch Bionics released the i-Limb July 29 in Vancouver, British Columbia, at the World Congress of the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics. There's no word yet on whether Medicare or insurance companies in the US are going to pay for the i-Limb hand, so unfortunately, distribution is limited to people who want to pay out of pocket.
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