Prosthetic hand device gives thermal feedback

Device uses phantom hand sensations to allow users to determine the temperature of objects through their prosthetic hands

Sensor

Measures the temperature of objects held or touched by the hand

Temperature

controller

and battery

Thermode

Applies the temperature relayed from the sensor to the skin on the wearer’s arm

Robotic

prosthetic

hand

Installing the thermode

1. A series of tests

are carried out on the arm to find a point where thermal sensations are reliably projected to the user’s phantom hand

2. The thermode is attached through the prosthetic making contact with the skin at that point

Thermode

Applies the temperature relayed from the sensor to the skin on the wearer’s arm

Sensor

Measures the temperature of objects held or touched by the hand

Temperature

controller

and battery

Robotic

prosthetic

hand

Installing the thermode

1. A series of tests

are carried out on the arm to find a point where thermal sensations are reliably projected to the user’s phantom hand

2. The thermode is attached through the prosthetic making contact with the skin at that point

Guradian graphic. Source: Muheim et al., A sensory-motor hand prosthesis with integrated thermal feedback, Med (2023)