First bionic finger unveiled

Touch Bionics is marketing the motor-powered system, dubbed Pro-Digits, for patients with missing fingers due to congenital anomalies or amputation from a traumatic incident or medical condition.

The company claims that the amputee population that can benefit from Pro-Digits is considerable, estimating it around 52,000 in the EU and 1.2 million worldwide.

The Pro-Digit bionic finger is able to bend, touch, pick up and point in a way that reflects the function of a natural hand.

There are two control strategies that can be employed to power Pro-Digits: either myoelectric sensors that register muscle signals from the residual finger or palm, or a pressure-sensitive switch input in the form of a force-sensitive resistor (FSR) or touch pad that relies on the remnant digit or tissue surrounding the metacarpal bone to provide the necessary pressure to activate the finger.

A stall feature allows the device to detect when it has closed around an object, allowing users to point single digits and configure the hand in various grip patterns.