Lausanne, Switzerland – A new innovation in prosthetic technology has emerged, allowing amputees to experience the sensation of temperature through their artificial limbs. This breakthrough, developed by researchers from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne, opens up the possibility of incorporating various sensations into prosthetic devices.
The device, known as MiniTouch, was created to provide natural temperature sensations to amputees, enabling them to feel whether objects are hot, cold, or at an intermediate temperature. According to Prof Solaiman Shokur, senior author of the research, enhancing sensory feedback from a prosthesis is crucial for people to feel like their artificial limb is part of their body.
The team’s approach not only gives amputees the ability to perceive temperature but also enables them to distinguish between different materials and detect if an object is dangerously hot. This advancement also holds the potential to address the social aspect of touch, allowing individuals with artificial limbs to experience a more natural sensation.
The device functions by placing a temperature sensor on the prosthetic hand, which detects any changes in temperature and relays the information to another component mounted on the upper part of the prosthesis. When tested on a participant with a prosthetic arm, the device enabled the individual to discriminate between objects with different temperatures and materials with high accuracy.
Furthermore, the researchers are contemplating the development of a single wearable system that would allow individuals with amputations to experience various sensations such as pressure, texture, position, and wetness through their prostheses. This potential advancement represents a significant step forward in the research of thermal feedback for artificial limbs, although the implementation of such devices in the healthcare system may take time.
Overall, the MiniTouch offers promising developments in prosthetic technology, providing a glimpse into the future of sensory feedback for artificial limbs and the potential to improve the lives of amputees worldwide.