All-Italian artificial hand to go on sale in 2017

16 aprile 2015

1 min di lettura

(AGI) Rome, April 16 - The first all-Italian artificial handwill go on sale in 2017. A prototype of a poly-articulated,polyfunctional and anthropomorphic prosthetic hand usingrobotic technology has been developed by the national insuranceinstitute against accidents, INAIL, and IIT, the ItalianTechnology Institute. It was perfected for patients to use byINAIL's Prosthesis Centre in Budrio, central Italy. The handwas presented on Thursday by Labour Minister Giuliano Polettiand Health Minister, Beatrice Lorenzin. In December 2013 INAILand IIT agreed to develop advanced prosthetic andrehabilitative devices with a joint investment of 11.5 millioneuros. Marco Zambelli, the first patient at INAIL'sProsthesis Centre to experiment with using the hand, gave ademonstration of the functionality he acquired after a trainingcourse. The hand allows patients with upper limb amputations torecover functionality, said the developers. The hand wasdesigned with 3D-printing technology and produced in plasticmaterial with few metal components. It is sturdy and light,weighing less than 500 grams, and extremely flexible due to anartificial tendon which can reproduce natural movement. Thepatient controls the hand through two sensors that pick up thesignal emitted by remaining muscles. The device does notrequire invasive surgery and can be easily worn over a stump. The new hand will be available after the pre-clinicaldevelopment phase with the patients of the Budrio INAIL Centre,and will be produced and marketed by a new start-up companywithin the IIT. .