Thanks to the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL), an amputee can now feel rough or smooth textures in real-time — in his phantom hand — using an artificial fingertip connected to nerves in the arm. The researchers hope that this advancement will help accelerate the development of touch-enabled prosthetics.
The team turned to Dennis Aabo Sørensen, who had lost his left hand in an accident, to test out their new concept. During the trial, he said the sensations he experienced were almost like what you’d feel with your own hand.
In order to achieve this, nerves in Sørensen’s arm were wired to an artificial fingertip equipped with sensors. A machine controlled the movement of the fingertip over different pieces of plastic engraved with different patterns, smooth or rough. As the fingertip moved across the textured plastic, the sensors generated an electrical signal. This signal was translated into a series of electrical spikes, imitating the language of the nervous system, then delivered to the nerves. Impressively, Sørensen could distinguish between rough and smooth surfaces 96% of the time.
For comparison sake, the researchers had non-amputees take the test while wearing EEG caps as well. They monitored the brainwave activity of the non-amputees, once with the artificial fingertip and then again with their own finger. The brain scans collected by the cap revealed that activated regions in the brain were analogous. Meaning, the scientists were able to demonstrate that their creation is able to trigger the same parts of the brain that real fingers do.
Aside from enabling a future where prosthetics can feel, EFPL believes their technology could also give rescue, surgery and industrial robots the power of artificial touch. Pretty amazing stuff, right? You can read all about the study here, or watch the video below.