Artificial limbs move through a variety of mechanisms depending on the type and sophistication of the prosthetic. Here's a breakdown of how a bionic hand moves, as described in the reference:
Understanding Bionic Hand Movement
A bionic hand's movement isn't directly controlled by muscle contractions in the same way a natural hand is. Instead, it relies on a sophisticated interaction between the prosthetic, the user's remaining limb, and a computer system.
The Process:
- Signal Transmission: The bionic hand initiates the process by sending signals to a computerized control system that resides outside the body.
- External Processing: This external computer acts as the "brains" of the operation, interpreting the hand's intended action.
- Tactile Feedback: The computer then instructs a small robot worn on the arm to send vibrations to the arm muscle. These vibrations deep within the muscle create an illusion of movement that then tells the brain when the hand is closing or opening. This provides the user with a sense of proprioception, the awareness of the hand's position and movement in space.
In summary, the movement isn't solely driven by the user's muscles or brain but relies on a closed-loop feedback system facilitated by technology.
