More work on bionic limbs

Bionic hands can now have a sense of touch. Scientists at Case Western attached sensors to the bionic hand and in surgery fitted "cuffs" around the remaining nerves, which were capable of delivering electronic stimulation. Then, they "mapped" these sensations to 19 different locations on the hand, from the palm to the tip of the thumb, and matched the sensors to the different electronic patterns of stimulation. Finally, for now, they did some work with pressure and textures so that the patient knows whether he is handling different materials such as Velcro or sandpaper, even when he is blindfolded.

In Sweden they improved control by anchoring bionic arms directly onto the bone. The arm is wired to send different patterns of electronic stimulation to the nerves. These were interpreted in the brain as different sensations.