Researchers develop bionic 'fingertip' to enable amputee to 'feel' surfaces

Researchers have created an artificial fingertip that can be surgically connected to nerves in the upper arm that amputees can use to feel relative roughness or smoothness. In early testing, it was connected to an amputee and also used by nonamputees to distinguish the coarseness of surfaces.

Amputee Dennis Aabo Sørensen, who previously was connected to a sensory-enabled prosthetic hand, was the first person to use the bionic fingertip via the electrodes that are surgically implanted above his stump.

After being connected, a machine controlled the fingertip movement over pieces of plastic engraved with different patterns that were smooth or rough. As it moved over the textured plastic, the fingertip generated an electrical signal that was translated to the nervous system that imitates its usual activity.
He was able to accurately distinguish between rough and smooth surfaces 96% of the time, the researchers reported.

Research was also conducted with nonamputees with an attachment via fine needles that were temporarily attached to the median nerve in the arm through the skin. But the sensitivity wasn't as acute; nonamputees were able to distinguish roughness only 77% of the time.
 

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