After receiving a smart prosthetic arm, a rehabilitation patient began practicing using the bionic hand to operate a computer.
Mr. Liu, who lost his limbs three years ago due to severe burns from a factory accident, was once completely dependent on others for daily tasks. Recently, he was fitted with an intelligent bionic hand on his left arm, allowing him to perform basic actions like drinking water and tapping a keyboard. During a visit to the Guangdong Provincial Work Injury Rehabilitation Hospital, a reporter met Mr. Liu and shook hands with him. This marked the hospital's first successful case of implementing an advanced bionic hand.
Patient: The action that can be done is beyond imagination
In 2014, Mr. Liu suffered burns covering 95% of his body and partial amputation of his limbs. He required constant care from family members. After being admitted to the hospital, a specialized team conducted a comprehensive evaluation and created a detailed rehabilitation plan. Last year, he received two lower limb prosthetics. On New Year’s Eve, he was fitted with an intelligent bionic hand on his left arm. Though still not fully skilled, he could now perform simple tasks such as drinking water, shaking hands, and pinching objects. When the reporter shook his hand, it felt surprisingly natural, except for some stiffness.
“It’s amazing,†Mr. Liu said. “The things I can do now are beyond what I ever imagined.†He also demonstrated typing on a keyboard by lifting his middle, ring, and little fingers while bending his index finger. Although the process was slow, he managed to type his name. It is expected that in the future, he will be able to eat with a spoon and make calls, but texting may require a special finger cap for touch screen use.
Mr. Liu’s wife, Ms. Zhu, shared her hopes for the future. “Once my husband gets used to the prosthesis, we plan to return to our hometown and start a small business. For example, if we need to collect money, we won’t have to search for cash. He can sit at the store and manage everything through WeChat payment.â€
Install bionic hand condition
To qualify for an intelligent bionic hand, patients must have a forearm residual limb of at least 5 cm, and the skin must show measurable EMG signals. According to Yi Wangxian, a prosthetist at the hospital, such technology has been available abroad since around 2010, but it remains expensive. Foreign models cost over 200,000 yuan, while domestic versions range around 100,000 yuan.
Control: Finger movement can be controlled by the patient's will, enabling up to 16 different actions
The bionic hand works by capturing muscle contractions in the residual limb, generating myoelectric signals that are then amplified and processed. These signals control micro-motors, which drive the fingers’ movements. The device can perform 16 different actions, though patients typically choose 8 common ones, such as holding a pen, typing, pinching, or using a spoon. The grip force can reach up to 140 Newtons. “Human hands have 14 joints, making fine control extremely complex,†explained Yi. “This bionic hand uses five independently driven fingers, focusing on the most practical combinations to improve daily life for amputees.â€
Before installation, Mr. Liu underwent three months of EMG signal training using a virtual hand. After one month of practice with the bionic hand, he was able to master eight sets of movements. “Our goal is to maximize the patient’s quality of life by helping them fully utilize the bionic hand through medical rehabilitation,†said Yi.
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