Tag Archives: Prosthetic Arm

This prosthetic limb integrates smart technology into its build to intuit and track each user’s movements

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The Smart Prosthetic Arm is a wearable design concept that integrates AI and smart technology into the construction of a prosthetic limb.

The magic of prosthesis design lies in its ability to bring life experiences to those with arthritis and missing limbs. While prosthetic limbs have made strides in terms of product development since their conception, smart technology ushers in yet a new era of prosthesis design to reinvigorate its broad potential within the field of healthcare. Wearable sensors and mobile applications incorporated into prosthetic limbs allow those wearing prosthetic limbs to make more precise movements and monitor the status of their recovery process a bit more closely. 3D conceptual artist and digital sculptor, Xander Lihovski designed his own interpretation of AI-controlled prosthesis design called Smart Prosthetic Arm.

Designer: Xander Lihovski

While some prosthetic arms take on the look of an actual limb to create a cohesive look with the user’s body and skin tone, Lihovski’s design embraces the tech of it all. The robotic look also helps to normalize the use of prosthetic limbs in common spaces. Conceptualized in optic white and slate black, a digital interface wraps around the prosthetic arm’s elbow crease that operates as the prosthetic limb’s smart hub.

There, users can use their free hand to scroll through system alerts and settings to optimize their experience using the prosthetic arm. Features like a fitness tracker, clock, and calorie counter can be found in the digital smart hub that users can access at any time. Elastic components also connect the different parts of the Smart Prosthetic Arm to allow for comfortable movement. The smart digital display is connected to the prosthetic forearm and fingers by an elastic component that also works to minimize the number of materials needed to build the prosthetic limb.

What sets conventional prothetic limbs apart from smart prosthesis designs is the embedded sensors and technology that intuit the user’s movements with regular use. Every day smart technology makes our day-to-day a little easier–facial recognition unlocks our iPhones and Siri registers the slightest change in the tone of our voices to complete tasks. Smart technology in prosthetic limbs depends on a system of sensors that predict the natural body language of the person wearing the prosthetic limb, optimizing the experience for them to allow precise handling and movement.

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Engineer designed and built his own functioning mechanical prosthetic hand and it looks like a steampunk beauty!

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It looks like equal parts Iron Man and the Winter Soldier, and it makes really cool whirring and clicking noises too!

Most people look to 2019 with a certain fondness and nostalgia, but the year proved quite difficult for Ian Davis. Not only did he lose 4 of his fingers in a freak workshop accident, but he was also diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, an aggressive type of cancer. To add figurative salt to his wounds, Davis found out his medical insurance didn’t cover costs for a prosthetic hand because ‘he only lost his fingers and not his entire hand’. Determined not to be shaken by this strange detour life forced him to take, and also empowered by his sheer willpower to keep creating, Davis decided to build a prosthetic of his own.

Relying on his professional knowledge as a mechanical engineer, and taking to 3D printing, Ian embarked on a journey to rebuild his hand and his life. “Being a maker, it was a tough deal,” Ian said as he had to use his hand for everything. Davis even documented the entire process on his YouTube channel through a series of videos that show assemblies, versions, updates, and upgrades. In his latest upgrade, Davis demonstrates the prosthetic’s ability to splay (or spread out) the mechanical fingers… something he says is very rare, if not entirely absent, in commercial prosthetics. The fact that the entire prosthetic limb is engineered from scratch gave Davis the ability to repair and augment his creation, something he wouldn’t be able to do with complex, commercially manufactured prosthetic limbs… especially given America’s strict laws against the “Right To Repair”.

What’s really noteworthy about Davis’ creation is that it’s entirely mechanical and doesn’t rely on electronic components, software, and batteries. In a Reddit thread, he mentions that the mechanical hand has many obvious benefits over an electronic one. For starters, it doesn’t need charging (and conversely never runs out of charge either), but it’s also MUCH faster than electronic limbs. It takes an average of 0.2 seconds to open or close the fist, as opposed to electronic prosthetics that can take 10 times longer. Let’s also state the fairly obvious in that it even looks absolutely INSANE, with the steampunk metal digits and the tiny #15 industrial chain running through them… as well as the whirring and clicking sounds they make as they move.

It’s a relentless process of trial, error, and improvement for Ian Davis. He started working on the concept back in July of 2019, and slowly and surely built new features into his hand to make it better, with the latest addition being the splaying function. Moving forward, Ian also plans to implement an Arduino with a display to gain individual control of the fingers and some servo motors to advance the design.

“My end goal is to get picked up by one of the major prosthetic manufacturers and design hands for them in their R&D department, creating real-world solutions for partial hand amputees. Durable products that you can take to work and actually get jobs done with. Allowing people to get back to their lives, doing things that they loved before the time of their life-changing accidents”, Ian says.

Designer: Ian Davis

Gamer Amputee gets real-life Venom Snake bionic arm – and its finally available for sale!

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29-year old Daniel Melville from Reading was born without his right hand, loves gaming (Metal Gear Solid in particular) and yes, Venom Snake is his favorite character. Now the geeky boy has got his wish granted as he now gets to role-play the protagonist of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (who lost his left arm and use of his right eye in an explosion) in real life. The game released by Konami in 2015 has been hugely popular – and it’s only fitting they have collaborated with Bristol-based robotics tycoon Open Bionics to create the outer shell for the Hero Arm. “We’re incredibly excited to collaborate with Open Bionics, who are at the cutting edge of robotics,” said Takayuki Kubo, president of Konami Digital Entertainment.

Just the mention of a bionic arm that actually looks strikingly similar to the Venom Snake’s real arm is exciting. All the unfortunate upper limb amputees who are fascinated by gaming will be having their eyes set on this amazing sync of technology and design – virtually picturing themselves as the strong character. In that regard, Melville is one lucky chap to sport the prosthetic and actually get acknowledged for it. Understandably, he is on top of the world with this new cool arm in his possession, “It’s everything I’ve ever wanted from a bionic arm. I’m an avid gamer and I love Metal Gear Solid so much and to actually have Snake’s arm in real life is just insane.”

Talking of the battery-powered Hero Arm that’s manufactured using advanced 3D printing techniques, it is now available for sale through prosthetic clinics for people aged 8 and above. It costs around £10,000 (around $13,130) which is a whole lot less than the nearest competitor, making it the world’s most affordable multi-grip bionic arm. The arm functions like an intuitive life-like muscle with utmost precision, making it a boon for people who have lost their upper limb or are born without one. It can rotate 180 degrees for picking up objects and also lift a weight of up to 8kg. It has the dexterity to hold a mobile phone, break eggs, or easily operate a lawnmower. Basically, the arm does it all and infuses a fresh breath of life, empowering the disabled!

Now turning fiction into reality, the collaboration has brought the Metal Gear Solid-themed clip-on cover – turning the Hero Arm into something that only dreams are made of. As rightly put by Samantha Payne, co-founder of Open Bionics, “It’s pure joy to see this piece of engineering and art impact a person’s life.” Although the red and black Venom Snake artificial limb doesn’t have any weapons, still it is a commendable feat of engineering. Even better, both the Hero Arm and the clip-on Snake Venom cover are available for buying right away – isn’t that great, already!

Designer: Open Bionics with Konami