After receiving a smart arm, the rehabilitation patient successfully operated a computer using a bionic hand.
Mr. Liu, who lost his limbs three years ago due to severe burns, was once completely dependent on others for daily life. Recently, he was fitted with an intelligent bionic hand on his left arm, allowing him to drink water and even tap on a keyboard with just one finger. During a visit to the Guangdong Provincial Work Injury Rehabilitation Hospital, the reporter met Mr. Liu and shook hands with him. This marked the hospital’s first successful case of using an intelligent bionic hand.
“The actions I can do are beyond my imagination,†said Mr. Liu. In 2014, a factory accident left him with 95% burns and partial limb loss, making it impossible for him to live independently. After entering the hospital, a multidisciplinary team conducted a detailed assessment and developed a comprehensive rehabilitation plan. Last year, he received two lower-limb prosthetics, and on New Year's Eve, he installed the bionic hand on his left arm.
Although still not fully skilled, Mr. Liu could perform simple tasks like drinking water, shaking hands, and pinching. When the reporter shook his hand, it felt almost normal, except for slight stiffness. “I’m very excited!†he said. He also demonstrated typing on a keyboard by lifting his middle, ring, and pinky fingers and bending his index finger. While the process was slow, it showed promising progress.
His wife, Ms. Zhu, expressed hope that in the future, Mr. Liu could run a small business. “He can sit at the store and manage things without worrying about cash,†she said. “We don’t need to find money anymore.â€
Conditions for Installation
To qualify for the installation of an intelligent bionic hand, the residual limb must be at least 5 cm long, and the skin should have detectable EMG signals. According to Ai Wangxian, a prosthetic orthopaedic specialist at the hospital, such technology has been available abroad since around 2010 but is costly. Foreign models cost over 200,000 yuan, while domestic ones range from 100,000 yuan.
Control Mechanism: Up to 16 Movements via Will
Ai explained that the bionic hand works by capturing muscle contractions in the residual limb, converting them into myoelectric signals. These signals are then amplified and used to control micro-motors that drive the fingers. The hand can perform up to 16 different movements, though patients typically use 8 common ones, such as holding a pen, typing, or using a spoon. The grip force can reach 140.1 Newtons.
“Human hands have 14 joints, making fine motor control extremely complex,†Ai said. “This bionic hand uses five fingers with independent micro-motors, allowing for the most common movements. Our goal is to help patients regain as much independence as possible through medical rehabilitation training.†Before installation, Mr. Liu underwent three months of EMG signal training and virtual hand practice. After one month of real training, he could master eight basic actions.
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