Woman Becomes First Person to Be Fitted for Bionic Hand That Integrates Nervous and Skeletal Systems

A woman from Sweden has become the first to receive a robotic limb integrated with her nervous and skeletal system.

Known as the “real bionic woman”, 50-year-old Karin was fitted with an advanced robotic limb several years ago after losing her right arm in a farm accident two decades ago. Karin, whose last name remains undisclosed, suffered phantom pain in her limbs for years, and prosthetic limbs offered her little comfort.

“I felt like I was constantly holding my hand in a meat grinder, which created a high level of stress and I had to take large doses of various pain medications,” Karin said in a news release via EurekAlert!.

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Karin, 50, from Sweden photographed with her new bionic hand.

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A study published in Science Robotics on Wednesday reveals that Karin, who underwent surgery in December 2018, can now perform 80% of the tasks she previously did with both hands. She can even experience sensations in her artificial limb.

The researchers emphasize that after three years of allowing Karin to perform tasks such as turning doorknobs and cooking meals, the limb seamlessly integrated into her daily life.

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To create Kara’s advanced bionic limb, a collaborative team of engineers and surgeons from Sweden, Australia and Italy developed what they believe is a revolutionary solution for those with limb loss, combining surgical techniques, implants and artificial intelligence.

Kara’s bionic limb was fashioned using two titanium rods that were anchored into her bone, serving as a connection between her arm and the prosthesis. This surgical method, called osseointegration, is fundamental to a new bionic technology developed by Prensilia, an Italian prosthetics company.

Karin (left) and prof. Max Ortiz Catalan photographed adjusting Karina’s bionic arm.

SWNS

It eliminates the need for a socket to connect an amputee’s limb to their prosthesis, solving problems of discomfort, poor fit and challenges in attachment and removal.

Electrodes were then implanted into her severed nerves and arm muscles, connecting them to the prosthesis. Consequently, the device can interpret the signals from her motor commands, which trigger body movements.

To test the effectiveness of the bionic limbs, actions – such as lifting a glass or closing the zipper of a suitcase – were performed in real time. Although Kara’s surgery was performed a few days ago, it is rapidly gaining importance due to its successful outcome and advances in the medical field.

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Professor Christian Cipriani from the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna in Pisa, Italy, highlighted the importance of this moment in EurekAlert! news. He explained that Karina’s bionic arm represents “a fusion of the most advanced prosthetic and robotic technologies from our institutions, with the potential to profoundly impact the lives of individuals.”

Because of Kara’s successful experience, the researchers are optimistic that their findings can help other amputees.

“Karin was the first below-elbow amputee to receive this new concept of a highly integrated bionic arm that can be used independently and reliably in everyday life,” Professor Max Ortiz Catalan, head of neural prosthetics research at the Bionics Institute in Australia and founder of the Center for bionics and pain research in Sweden, he said, echoing Cipriani’s excitement.

Since starting to use the bionic arm in mid-2019, Karin has confirmed an improved daily life.

She describes her bionic arm as “life-changing”, alleviating her phantom pain and allowing her to regain her independence in everyday activities.

“Now I have better control over my prosthesis, but above all, my pain has decreased,” said Karin. “I need a lot less medicine today. This research meant a lot to me because it enabled me to have a better life.”

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education