Touch Bionics i-LIMB Pulse, the Bluetooth bionic hand, makes your meaty one obsolete
By Tim Stevens 
posted May 6th 2010 9:32AM
posted May 6th 2010 9:32AM
Touch Bionics unveils the new i-LIMB Pulse
The prosthetic hand that pioneered the bionic industry gets an upgrade
LIVINGSTON, UK – May 5, 2010 – Touch Bionics (www.touchbionics.com), developer of advanced upper-limb bionic technologies, today announced the launch of the i-LIMB Pulse, an all-new version of the revolutionary i-LIMB Hand, the world's first commercially available bionic hand. The i-LIMB Pulse is a significant advance for the i-LIMB product line, with a host of enhancements, including pulsing grip strength, software-enabled grip patterns and robust aluminium features for improved strength.
To be previewed at next week's ISPO World Congress and ORTHOPÄDIE + REHA-TECHNIK tradeshow in Leipzig, Germany, the i-LIMB Pulse joins a family of products that has been fitted to more than 1,200 patients worldwide. The i-LIMB Pulse is offered in addition to the existing i-LIMB Hand, and both products are available to customers depending on the patients' preferences. Its new features have been driven by Touch Bionics' experiences in the marketplace as a pioneer of bionic technology and clinical support.
"Having experienced over three years in the market with the i-LIMB Hand, we have gathered unparalleled insight into the needs and requirements of users of upper extremity prosthetic devices" said Stuart Mead, Touch Bionics' CEO. "This has contributed significantly to the development of the i-LIMB Pulse – for example, we know that the majority of users, whether male or female, prefer a device with natural body lines, so we invested considerable time in miniaturizing components and internal structures to offer two sizes that will accommodate almost all user preferences."
The i-LIMB Pulse is so called because it utilises Touch Bionics' patented pulsing technology to provide increasing and controllable grip strength. When the i-LIMB Pulse closes on an object, the user has the option to use the pulsing feature to apply significant additional grip force, allowing the device to grasp an object more tightly. These high-frequency electronic pulses are very important in everyday activities for users, such as tying shoelaces or doing-up a belt.
With an aluminium chassis, the i-LIMB Pulse's robust design features make it Touch Bionics' toughest prosthetic device yet, capable of carrying a load of up to 90kg.
"The i-LIMB Pulse is a very exciting technology development, particularly for someone like myself, who is looking to get back to a level of duty in the fire service," said Ian Reid, a firefighter from Thurso in Scotland, who lost his right hand in a tragic holiday bus crash in 2003, and the first person to be fitted with an i-LIMB Pulse. "The pulsing effect, increased robustness and range of grip features will hopefully give me the increased level of function I'm looking for."
With a range of automated features that allow various combinations of grip patterns and other digit-postures to be activated by the user, the i-LIMB Pulse offers an unparalleled degree of flexibility to its users. Patterns like index point, precision pinch, lateral key grip and three jaw chuck (tripod) are all now easily activated in a single action by the user.
Key to the i-LIMB Pulse is BioSim, Touch Bionics' new Bluetooth-enabled software that allows prosthetists and, for the first time ever, users (using MyBioSim) to select the features and control strategies that work best for them.
For prosthetists, BioSim is a complete software toolset that allows clinical practitioners to customise the i-LIMB Pulse to the specific needs of the user. It allows real-time assessment of users' myoelectric impulses with the ability to adjust gain and threshold settings, select different control strategies, and enable or disable features and grips, including the pulsing effect.
BioSim also provides statistical analysis and documentation of the device wearer's usage patterns, a feature designed to improve patient outcomes and training.
The i-LIMB Pulse begins shipping on June 1, 2010, and Touch Bionics is currently accepting orders on the product.
About Touch Bionics
Touch Bionics is a leading developer of advanced upper-limb prosthetics. In late 2009, Touch Bionics brought to market ProDigits, the world's first bionic fingers for partial hand amputees. This revolutionary product followed the 2007 launch of the i-LIMB Hand, a first-to-market prosthetic device with five individually powered digits. The acquisition of LIVINGSKIN in 2008 enabled the company to apply its commercial and technical expertise into new cosmesis solutions for multi-articulating hands and digits. Touch Bionics continues to develop leading-edge technologies for the treatment of patients with upper-limb deficiencies. For more information, visit www.touchbionics.com.
The prosthetic hand that pioneered the bionic industry gets an upgrade
LIVINGSTON, UK – May 5, 2010 – Touch Bionics (www.touchbionics.com), developer of advanced upper-limb bionic technologies, today announced the launch of the i-LIMB Pulse, an all-new version of the revolutionary i-LIMB Hand, the world's first commercially available bionic hand. The i-LIMB Pulse is a significant advance for the i-LIMB product line, with a host of enhancements, including pulsing grip strength, software-enabled grip patterns and robust aluminium features for improved strength.
To be previewed at next week's ISPO World Congress and ORTHOPÄDIE + REHA-TECHNIK tradeshow in Leipzig, Germany, the i-LIMB Pulse joins a family of products that has been fitted to more than 1,200 patients worldwide. The i-LIMB Pulse is offered in addition to the existing i-LIMB Hand, and both products are available to customers depending on the patients' preferences. Its new features have been driven by Touch Bionics' experiences in the marketplace as a pioneer of bionic technology and clinical support.
"Having experienced over three years in the market with the i-LIMB Hand, we have gathered unparalleled insight into the needs and requirements of users of upper extremity prosthetic devices" said Stuart Mead, Touch Bionics' CEO. "This has contributed significantly to the development of the i-LIMB Pulse – for example, we know that the majority of users, whether male or female, prefer a device with natural body lines, so we invested considerable time in miniaturizing components and internal structures to offer two sizes that will accommodate almost all user preferences."
The i-LIMB Pulse is so called because it utilises Touch Bionics' patented pulsing technology to provide increasing and controllable grip strength. When the i-LIMB Pulse closes on an object, the user has the option to use the pulsing feature to apply significant additional grip force, allowing the device to grasp an object more tightly. These high-frequency electronic pulses are very important in everyday activities for users, such as tying shoelaces or doing-up a belt.
With an aluminium chassis, the i-LIMB Pulse's robust design features make it Touch Bionics' toughest prosthetic device yet, capable of carrying a load of up to 90kg.
"The i-LIMB Pulse is a very exciting technology development, particularly for someone like myself, who is looking to get back to a level of duty in the fire service," said Ian Reid, a firefighter from Thurso in Scotland, who lost his right hand in a tragic holiday bus crash in 2003, and the first person to be fitted with an i-LIMB Pulse. "The pulsing effect, increased robustness and range of grip features will hopefully give me the increased level of function I'm looking for."
With a range of automated features that allow various combinations of grip patterns and other digit-postures to be activated by the user, the i-LIMB Pulse offers an unparalleled degree of flexibility to its users. Patterns like index point, precision pinch, lateral key grip and three jaw chuck (tripod) are all now easily activated in a single action by the user.
Key to the i-LIMB Pulse is BioSim, Touch Bionics' new Bluetooth-enabled software that allows prosthetists and, for the first time ever, users (using MyBioSim) to select the features and control strategies that work best for them.
For prosthetists, BioSim is a complete software toolset that allows clinical practitioners to customise the i-LIMB Pulse to the specific needs of the user. It allows real-time assessment of users' myoelectric impulses with the ability to adjust gain and threshold settings, select different control strategies, and enable or disable features and grips, including the pulsing effect.
BioSim also provides statistical analysis and documentation of the device wearer's usage patterns, a feature designed to improve patient outcomes and training.
The i-LIMB Pulse begins shipping on June 1, 2010, and Touch Bionics is currently accepting orders on the product.
About Touch Bionics
Touch Bionics is a leading developer of advanced upper-limb prosthetics. In late 2009, Touch Bionics brought to market ProDigits, the world's first bionic fingers for partial hand amputees. This revolutionary product followed the 2007 launch of the i-LIMB Hand, a first-to-market prosthetic device with five individually powered digits. The acquisition of LIVINGSKIN in 2008 enabled the company to apply its commercial and technical expertise into new cosmesis solutions for multi-articulating hands and digits. Touch Bionics continues to develop leading-edge technologies for the treatment of patients with upper-limb deficiencies. For more information, visit www.touchbionics.com.
I'm gunna be honest, I clicked this article because work was slow, not because I have any interest in bionic hands. But when I read that first sentence, I definantly got some strange glances from co-workers as I lol'd IRL. Seriously, funny joke, Ty for the laugh!
For more information about prosthetics, amputation, limb difference, and new technology, contact the nonprofit organization The Amputee Coalition of America at 888/267-5669 or visit them on the Web at Amputee-Coalition.org.
Looks like a not-so-badass prototype of Automail - pretty useful for day to day stuff I suppose. Just won't be able to super punch the crap out of bi-species mutants or homonculi anytime soon with it.
It's good to know Dean Kamen isn't the only one tasked with making replacement limbs.
There is something creepily prophetic about the photo of the handshake between a robotic hand and a human hand. That one day we might be giving a handshare to an android and talking and working along with. I've seen it many times in movies and books, but for some reason, this is the first time it really sits in my mind.
first time i laughed at an engadget post. clever writing i love it.
but can it play Crysis?
Hummm how can we make this product sound modern and appeal to todays market?
LIMB Pulse ... hummm just doesn't quite work
STICK A LOWER CASE I INFRONT OF IT!
i-LIMB Pulse .... Brilliant!!
It's super effective!
i-LIMB Hand
He said some things, you said some things, then he cut your hand off.
......... I think a little is missing here......
I am actually wearing an i-Limb Pulse prototype as I type this (this is me: http://tweetphoto.com/22219924 ). This is by far the best prosthesis I have ever tried. You cannot believe the increase in life quality that this product provides to me. Feel free to ask questions about it. BTW: There is a short video showing me DJing wearing a Pulse at their booth on a trade show last week here: http://bit.ly/9fHz1C
(Disclaimer: I do not work for Touch Bionics, but I am a beta tester for the i-Limb Pulse)