Feel the force with the "Luke Arm"

I’m sure you remember Luke Skywalker's robotic hand from the Star Wars movies which was needed after following a battle with Darth Vader. From a disability perspective it was amazing to see the young Jedi employ his prosthetic limb as if it was his regular hand, this would provide amputees with the hope that one day they too could attach a prosthetic hand that would allow them to feel as if they have no restrictions placed on them. Well thanks to the scientists at DEKA Research and Development, a truly advanced prosthetic limb, which according to US regulator FDA (Food and Drug Administration) is the first device capable of performing multiple simultaneous orders from the wearer's brain, meaning that advance prosthetic hands are no longer just a dream based in a galaxy far far away.

The arm works by picking up the users intended movement through electrodes attached to the arm that detect muscle contractions close to the prosthesis, from there the robotic limb can predict the envisaged movements and carry out the intended action. Apparently as many as ten movements can be predicted. Not only that, the device can be controlled via movement in the leg.

Being named after one of the most famous characters in science fiction and movie history is not the robotic limbs only claim to fame. The company creating the "Luke Arm" was founded by Dean Kamen, inventor of the Segway Transporter, so with DEKA scientists and engineers having a history of creating world famous technology for the disabled there is certainly new hope that the team will be able to ensure the success of the project and enhance the lives of amputees across the world.

The project was funded by the Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) who since 2006 has given the project $40 million dollars to help those who have tragically lost limbs during military service.

The project gained approval earlier this year from the FDA following a trial study conducted mostly with war veterans who had lost an arm during service. It found that 90% of participants were able to perform activities such as using keys and locks to preparing meals using the hand, something they could not do previously with alternative prosthetic hands. As the video below shows:

Before it can become available to the mass market the “Luke Arm” does need to find a commercial partner to mass-manufacture it.

This is only the beginning though, scientists and engineers are also looking into further sensory technology which allows the wearer to actually feel small object through the artificial fingertips and detect how much pressure is being applied to the object in both Switzerland and Ohio.

So what do you think? Does the new hand look good to you? Are we beginning to enter a world where the $6 million dollar man is slowly becoming a reality? One thing that is certain is that the "Luke Arm" could improve the lives of many amputees.

Feel the force with the "Luke Arm"

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