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5 months ago
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Cambridge University scientists have created a 'third thumb', a prosthetic that can be controlled and fixed on the edge of the right hand.
The prosthetic limb allows the wearer to pick up objects, open drink bottles, check playing cards, and even peel bananas, all with just one hand.
The “ third thumb ,” which is available in different sizes to suit children’s and adult hands, is placed on the opposite side of the palm of the hand to the real thumb, and is controlled by a pressure sensor placed under each big toe, which can be placed inside the shoe.
Pressing with the right toe pulls the prosthetic toe across the hand, while pressing with the left toe pulls it toward the fingers, and releasing the pressure returns it to its original position.
The study revealed that the 596 participants quickly became accustomed to the “third thumb,” which can “enhance our motor abilities beyond current biological limitations.”
98% of the participants were able to handle the objects successfully within the first minute of use.
Study leader Tamar Makin, professor of cognitive neuroscience at the University of Cambridge, explained that the thumb could be especially valuable for people who have lost an arm and have difficulty performing daily tasks with only one hand.
"One exciting area of future technology is locomotor augmentation, which is designed to enhance or extend the physical capabilities of humans," the research team says.
The team hopes this prosthetic will pave the way for creating a standard for other "universal" human-focused devices.
The study was published in the journal Science Robotics.
English (US)