Curling prosthesis gives wearer tentacle reach
Since the first hook was fitted onto the remains of a damaged limb, man has searched for the perfect artificial replacement. A University of Washington student Kaylene Kau, has been fitted with a tentacle like appendage that can grip like an octopus would. This actually makes a lot of sense as a curling squeeze can be much more gentle than the pinch of claw that mimics human movement since it requires much finer motor control.
Prosthetic limbs have come a long way in recent years, evolving from simple devices to complex, customized machines that respond to sensors and possess multiple degrees of motion, among other advancements. Might high-tech tentacles be next? That’s the vision of Kaylene Kau, a 2010 graduate of the University of Washington’s Industrial Design Program who conceived of a motorized curling prosthetic arm as part of a senior project aimed at pushing the boundaries of current upper-limb prosthetic design.
Comments are closed.