Bionic hands are changing lives. Three men with severe nerve damage have received prosthetic hands that they can control with their minds. This groundbreaking procedure, known as “bionic reconstruction,” was performed by Dr. Oskar Aszmann at the Medical University of Vienna, Austria.
Key points
The Need for Bionic Hands
These men faced serious challenges after accidents damaged their brachial plexus, a network of nerves that connects the spine to the hand. Despite attempts to repair the nerves, their arms and hands remained paralyzed. Dr. Aszmann explains, “There are still some nerve fibers present, but not enough to make the hand functional. They will never drive a biological hand, but they can control a prosthetic one.”
How Bionic Reconstruction Works
The bionic hands come with their own power source. Patients charge their prosthetic hands every night, allowing them to use electricity to operate the device. This means that the remaining muscles and nerves only need to send the right signals to the prosthetic.
Before the surgery, patients underwent a preparation process. Dr. Aszmann first transplanted muscle from their legs into their arms. This new muscle helped amplify the signals from the remaining nerve fibers. After three months, the nerves grew into the transplanted muscle, and the men began training their brains to control the new setup.
They started by using an armband with sensors to detect electrical activity in their muscles. Next, they practiced controlling a virtual arm. Finally, Dr. Aszmann amputated their hands and replaced them with prosthetics that responded to the muscle signals.
The Impact of Bionic Hands
Dustin Tyler, a researcher at the Louis Stokes Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio, praised the innovation. “There’s something very personal about having a hand. Most people will go to great lengths to recover one, even if it’s not fully functional,” he said.
While Dr. Aszmann’s method uses grafted muscle to relay signals, other researchers are exploring direct brain control. A team at the University of Pittsburgh has successfully allowed a paralyzed woman to control a robotic arm using only her thoughts. This method offers a different approach, but elective amputation allows for precise planning of the surgery and better integration of the prosthetic.
The Complexity of Biological Hands
Even if nerve and muscle function could be restored, biological hands are incredibly complex. The muscles in our hands have the highest density of nerves in the body. The intricate interplay of tendons, muscles, and ligaments means that even small defects can hinder proper function.
Dr. Aszmann notes, “A prosthetic hand is simpler and easier to work with. We may not need to replace hands perfectly. The goal is to help people forget they lost their hand.”
Success Stories
For Dr. Aszmann’s patients, the functional prosthetic hands have proven to be more effective than their biological ones. After the surgery, all three men could pick up a ball, pour water from a jug, and button their shirts. Their scores on limb function tests improved significantly. For instance, on the Southampton Hand Assessment Procedure, their average score jumped from 9 out of 100 to 65, where 100 represents a fully functional hand.
The Challenge of Sensation
While the bionic hands restore some function, they do not yet provide a sense of touch. Dr. Aszmann explains, “A normal hand has about 70,000 nerve fibers, most of which are sensory fibers that send information to the brain. Only 10 percent are motor fibers.”
Dustin Tyler is working on a prototype prosthetic arm that aims to provide sensory feedback. His current version uses wires to stimulate nerves in the arm, but he hopes to develop a fully implantable wireless version in the next few years.
The Future of Prosthetics
Despite these advancements, technological alternatives to biological hands are still rudimentary. Dr. Aszmann emphasizes, “There’s an immense interplay that makes the hand what it is. It’s a fascinating organ.”
As Tyler puts it, “We’re rethinking the wiring of the body.” The future of bionic hands looks promising, with ongoing research aimed at improving functionality and restoring the sense of touch.
FAQs About Bionic Hands
Bionic hands are prosthetic devices that can be controlled by the user’s thoughts or muscle signals, allowing for more natural movement.
They work by using electrical signals from the remaining nerves or muscles to control the prosthetic, often powered by a battery.
Individuals with severe nerve damage or amputations can benefit from bionic hands, especially those who have lost function in their arms or hands due to accidents or medical conditions.
The process typically involves several steps: initial assessments, muscle grafting to enhance signal transmission, training to control the prosthetic, and finally, the surgical amputation of the non-functional hand followed by the attachment of the bionic hand.
Currently, most bionic hands do not provide sensory feedback. However, researchers are working on technologies that could allow users to regain some sense of touch through nerve stimulation.
While bionic hands can restore some functionality, they are not as complex as biological hands. Biological hands have a rich network of nerves and muscles that allow for fine motor control and sensory feedback, which bionic hands are still striving to replicate.
Advancements include improved control methods, such as brain-computer interfaces, and the development of prosthetics that can provide sensory feedback, enhancing the user experience and functionality.
Conclusion
Bionic hands represent a significant leap forward in prosthetic technology. With innovative procedures like those developed by Dr. Oskar Aszmann, individuals who have lost their hands can regain a level of independence and functionality that was previously unimaginable. As research continues, the hope is to not only improve the mechanical aspects of these devices but also to restore the sense of touch, making bionic hands even more like their biological counterparts.
The journey of bionic hands is just beginning, and with each advancement, we move closer to a future where technology can seamlessly integrate with the human body, offering new possibilities for those affected by limb loss. The stories of the men who have embraced this technology serve as a testament to human resilience and the power of innovation in transforming lives.
