Segway inventor's electric prosthetic hand "LUKE arm" starts general sale, various operations can be done with muscle signals

In 2014American Food and Drug AdministrationThe electric prosthetic hand which had been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) "LUKE armIt was announced that sales will start in the second half of 2016.

Mobius Bionics to Bring DEKA's LUKE Prosthetic Arm to Market | Business Wire
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LUKE arm is an electric prosthetic hand attached from the shoulder,ElectromyogramThe built-in sensors such as muscle enable intuitive control with electric signals emitted from the muscles. He is the inventor of SegwayDean KaemenIn design by Mr.,National Defense Advanced Research Projects Bureau(DARPA), and is sold by Mobius Bionics, a medical device manufacturer.


The LUKE arm is an electric part where the shoulder, elbow and wrist operate independently, and if you turn your shoulder, your hand reaches the head and back. The elbow has strength enough to allow movement such as lifting the shopping bag from the floor and lifting it on the table, realizing sophistication that the cup containing water can be moved to the position of the head and waist without spilling the wrist It is said that. The palm with flexible material has four independent motors built in, allowing you to grab a 1 gallon (about 3.78 liter) milk bottle from a phone or egg without slipping or breaking. It also has a built-in sensor that informs you with how much force you are grasping objects by vibration.


Conventional motorized artificial hands are generally operated by switches, etc. However, LUKE arm can control not only electric signals emitted from muscles, but also inertial measurement sensors attached to feet. Processing to protect equipment from water and dust has also been done and it is designed to be used safely in life.


Mobius Bionics announces the release date of LUKE arm in the second half of 2016, but the price is not disclosed. Experts in the industry such as electric prosthetic hands, price of LUKE armIt is expected to be 100,000 dollars (about 10 million yen)doing. The name "LUKE arm" is taken from the prosthesis of Luke Skywalker of the movie "Star Wars".