{"id":382370,"date":"2022-06-24T16:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-06-24T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/innovationorigins.com\/?p=382370"},"modified":"2022-06-24T16:00:00","modified_gmt":"2022-06-24T14:00:00","slug":"bionit-labs-hand-adapts-itself-to-the-user-and-to-the-grasped-object","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/en\/bionit-labs-hand-adapts-itself-to-the-user-and-to-the-grasped-object\/","title":{"rendered":"BionIT Labs’ hand adapts itself to the user and to grasped objects"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u201cTurning disabilities into new possibilities\u201d is BionIT Labs’ tagline, an Italian start-up that developed Adam\u2019s Hand<\/em> – a fully adaptive bionic hand made of steel and techno-polymers. Instead of choosing between grip patterns, the fingers adapt themselves to the shape and size of a grasped object. The prosthesis is integrated with an app that helps the user configure the hand and learn how to use it. Adam\u2019s Hand whole concept came out of a bachelor thesis project undertaken by Giovanni Zappatore – CEO of BionIT Labs<\/a> – who – joined by two of his former university mates – refined the idea further and started the company. He spoke to Innovation Origins for this instalment in the Start-up of the day series<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s the idea behind the hand?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

“Ever since my university days, I had an idea to create a device that could serve the users\u2019 needs. When designing something new, the focus often tends to go on the technology itself, rather than on the actual use that people will get out of it. All our efforts are aimed at designing an easy-to-use device, that the user can control with just two movements: contraction of the wrist flexor or extensor muscles.”<\/p>\n\n\n

<\/a>
<\/div><\/div>
Self-learning prosthetics from Axiles helps people get back on their feet<\/div>
The Brussels-based start-up Axiles Bionics has developed a bionic prosthetic for people who have an amputated foot.<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

How does it work? <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAdam\u2019s Hand has two engines: one to control the thumb and the second one to control the other four fingers. Particularly this latter one is able to split the torque into the four sections – the same way as a 4×4 car does. When one stops, the others can still close seamlessly this way. If I move one finger, another compensates by moving in the opposite direction. As a result, the device is more controllable and robust.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Adam's
Adam’s Hand – \u00a9 BionIT Labs<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe hand links with the arm through a custom-made socket. The sensors from the residual muscles to the hand are then connected. On the back of the hand\u2019, there is a button that helps choose some basic settings. Adam\u2019s Hand parameters can be set up via an app, where the patient can also find the User Guide and training exercises. Prosthetists can also manage their patients\u2019 databases.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can the users configure the hand? <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAn algorithm that we developed makes it easier to configure the hand depending on the user’s muscular tone. During its first use, the software asks the user to contract their wrist flexor and extensor muscles. Then the artificial intelligence records how the patient is performing those tasks and then uses this data to calibrate the device.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"BionIT
BionIT Labs founders. From left to right: Matteo Aventaggiato, Giovanni Zappatore, and Federico Gaetani. – \u00a9 BionIT Labs<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

What other features does it have? <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnother aspect we worked on is making fingers easily replaceable. The prosthetist can insert a new finger by unscrewing a bolt. This way, there is no need for sending back to us the hand to be repaired. The external interchangeable battery is designed to last for a whole day, so that it can be in theory charged overnight. It may use its battery up earlier depending on the use, so then there is no need to take off the prosthesis to plug a new one in. What’s more, the battery can send feedback to the user that is proportional to the clasping strength of the hand, so that a response can be given to the object being touched. In addition to that, we are working to make Adam\u2019s hand fully waterproof.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can users play sports with it?  <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe goal is to enable people to do as many activities as they can. What we must say is that it can\u2019t be used for contact sports. Besides its robustness, the user doesn\u2019t have any perception of where the hand is, and this is because it isn\u2019t connected to the nervous system. The user doesn\u2019t understand where exactly the hand is positioned, so it could potentially be harmful to the patient and those around them. The main piece of advice we give is not to use the hand without an additional glove in all the situations where you wouldn\u2019t use your hand without any protection.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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