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Italian researchers develop biomimetic prosthetic hand uniquely similar to a human hand

4 min read

Inspiring People
Source: YouTube/Centro Protesi Inail

The prosthetic hand Hannes is able to restore over 90% of functionality to people with upper-limb amputations and the concept was awarded the international industrial design prize Compasso d’Oro.

A more human prosthetic hand

A collective of researchers, orthopedists, industrial designers and patients in Italy have designed a prosthetic hand that is able to restore over 90% of functionality to people with upper-limb amputations. The hand has a fully movable wrist, weighs 450 grams (1lb), performs a full closed grasp in less than a second, exerts 15 kg of force, and has a battery life of 24 hours. 

natural synergistic and adaptable movement; biomimetic levels of force and speed; high anthropomorphism and grasp robustness. After a training period of less than one week, patients could autonomously use Hannes domestically to perform activities of daily living.
The prosthesis is able to replicate the key biological properties of the human hand: natural synergistic and adaptable movement; biomimetic levels of force and speed; high anthropomorphism and grasp robustness. After a training period of less than one week, patients could autonomously use Hannes domestically to perform activities of daily living. Source: IIT-INAIL/Techxplore

The Hannes hand prosthesis replicates key biological properties of a human hand

In the current issue of Science Robotics, researchers from Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT- Italian Institute of Technology) and Centro Protesi INAIL in Italy reported on their ability to replicate the key biological properties of the human hand: natural synergistic and adaptable movement, biomimetic levels of force and speed, high anthropomorphism and grasp robustness. Developed by a collaborative of researchers, orthopaedists, industrial designers and patients, the prostetic hand called Hannes is able to restore over 90% of functionality to people with upper-limb amputations.

Hannes is an anthropomorphic, poly-articulated upper limb prosthetic system including hand and wrist, whose main characteristics are softness and the ability to dynamically adapt to the shape of objects to grasp. It is uniquely similar to a human hand, and being developed directly with patients, has immediate practical use. To evaluate the effectiveness and usability of Hannes, pilot trials on amputees were performed at Centro Protesi Inail, and the researchers found that after a training period of less than one week, patients could autonomously use Hannes to perform activities of daily living.

Source: IIT/Techxplore

It is uniquely similar to a human hand, and being developed directly with patients, has immediate practical use.
Hannes is an anthropomorphic, poly-articulated upper limb prosthetic system including hand and wrist, whose main characteristics are softness and the ability to dynamically adapt to the shape of objects to grasp. It is uniquely similar to a human hand, and being developed directly with patients, has immediate practical use. Source: designawards.core77.com
Researchers found that after a training period of less than one week, patients could autonomously use Hannes to perform activities of daily living.
Quick to pick up. Researchers found that after a training period of less than one week, patients could autonomously use Hannes to perform activities of daily living. Source: thepatent.news

Hannes has the versatility and the movement of a natural hand

Hannes can perform a full closed grasp in less than 1 second and, at the same time, it can exert a maximum grasp force of 150N, that is well beyond other commercial and research poly articulated hands, and it has an autonomy of a whole day of standard use (battery life of 1 day: 12V power supply for a battery capacity of 1300 mAh).

The true intelligence of Hannes lies in the mechanical design, which is completely unique in its market sector, and it gives the prosthesis the versatility and the movement of a natural hand. 

The underlying mechanism of the hand is a mechanical differential system that allows Hannes to adapt to the object being grasped by using just a single motor. This also dramatically enhances performance due to its efficiency. It also corresponds with the 50th percentile of human hand size. Hannes is provided in two sizes, 7 ¾ and 8 ¼, for right and left hand replacement, and is suitable for female and male subjects. Its weight is 450 grams.

Source: IIT/Techxplore

and, at the same time, it can exert a maximum grasp force of 150N, that is well beyond other commercial and research poly articulated hands, and it has an autonomy of a whole day of standard use (battery life of 1 day: 12V power supply for a battery capacity of 1300 mAh).
Hannes can perform a full closed grasp in less than 1 second — and, at the same time, it can exert a maximum grasp force of 150N, that is well beyond other commercial and research poly articulated hands, and it has an autonomy of a whole day of standard use (battery life of 1 day: 12V power supply for a battery capacity of 1300 mAh). Source: thepatent.news
An array of surface electromyographic sensors placed within a custom socket detects the activity of the residual limb muscles in the lower or higher part of the arm, which are actively contracted by the user to perform multiple movements.
The prosthesis is a myoelectric system that can be worn all day, and is adjustable to a variety of upper limb impairments. An array of surface electromyographic sensors placed within a custom socket detects the activity of the residual limb muscles in the lower or higher part of the arm, which are actively contracted by the user to perform multiple movements. Source: thepatent.news
Through specially developed software and a Bluetooth connection, it is possible to customise the operating parameters of the hand, such as the precision and speed of movements, to ensure the most optimised experience for each user.
Bluetooth connected. Through specially developed software and a Bluetooth connection, it is possible to customise the operating parameters of the hand, such as the precision and speed of movements, to ensure the most optimised experience for each user. Source: Robiticorner
Hannes prosthetic hand Presentation of the Hannes Inail-IIT prosthetic hand Centro Presi Inail and IIT's (Italian Institute of Technologies) research project result. Source: YouTube/Centro Presi Inail
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