Bionics
| Technology from Formula 1 is changing the life of a woman in England. Nicky Ashwell was born without a right hand. But she's just been fitted with the most advanced bionic replacement ever made. It's smaller, lighter and more lifelike than any other. And, it's allowing Nicky to do things she's never been able to do before. |
Nicky Ashwell was born without a right hand and previously used a cosmetic prosthetic that she was not able to move.
Now she’s been fitted with what has been described as the world's most life-like bionic hand – meaning she can ride a bike for the first time.
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to deliver "unrivalled level of precision and natural movements"."When I first tried the Bebionic small hand it was an exciting and strange feeling - it immediately opened up so many more possibilities for me," said Ashwell.
"I realized that I had been making life challenging for myself when I didn't need to." |
"I realized that I had been making life challenging for myself when I didn't need to."
Weighing around 390g, the smaller model Bebionic hand is 165mm from base to middle fingertip - the size of an average woman's hand - and contains 337 mechanical parts.
It is strong enough to handle up to 45kg - around the same as 25 bricks - and has 14 grip patterns and hand positions to allow a range of precision movements.
The Bebionic small hand works using sensors triggered by the user’s muscle movements that connect to individual motors in each finger and powerful microprocessors. The technology comprises a unique system which tracks and senses each finger through its every move – mimicking the functions of a real hand.
Ted Varley, Technical Director at Steeper, the bionic hand's manufacturer said, “Looking to the future, there’s a trend of technology getting more intricate; Steeper has embraced this and created a smaller hand with advanced technology that is suitable for women and teenagers. An accurate skeletal structure was firstly developed, with the complex technology then specifically developed to fit within this in order to maintain anatomical accuracy. In other myoelectric hands the technology is developed first, at the expense of the lifelikeness.”
The Bebionic small hand works using sensors triggered by the user’s muscle movements that connect to individual motors in each finger and powerful microprocessors. The technology comprises a unique system which tracks and senses each finger through its every move – mimicking the functions of a real hand.
Ted Varley, Technical Director at Steeper, the bionic hand's manufacturer said, “Looking to the future, there’s a trend of technology getting more intricate; Steeper has embraced this and created a smaller hand with advanced technology that is suitable for women and teenagers. An accurate skeletal structure was firstly developed, with the complex technology then specifically developed to fit within this in order to maintain anatomical accuracy. In other myoelectric hands the technology is developed first, at the expense of the lifelikeness.”
"The movements now come easily and look natural - I keep finding myself being surprised by the little things, like being able to carry my purse while holding my boyfriend's hand."
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| Image Source - Laura Lean/PA |
SOURCE The Guardian, Steeper
| By 33rd Square | Embed |
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