Psyonic, an American prosthetic manufacturer, has cooperated with a 3D printing technology service provider to develop the first functional bionic arm with multi-touch feedback on the market with the help of 3D printing technology, but the cost is only half of the similar products.
The company's bionic arm, the Ability Hand, has sensors in the fingertips that detect pressure when a user grasps an object and send vibrations to the arm to convey that feeling. It allows the user to feel what they are doing and can handle even the most delicate objects.
Garrett Anderson, a retired sergeant due to an injury, needed a custom prosthesis after completing his military service in 2005. "It was the first time I passed the prosthetic hand, and I could feel my daughter's hand too," he said.
Psyonic used a selective laser sintering (SLS) 3D printer. The process involves rapid prototyping, followed by iterations of changes, and producing parts at relatively low prices and in small batches.
Chief Mechanical Engineer James Austin said: “I think hybrid manufacturing and adopting a production model for customized needs is very important for startups in general, but for Psyonic in particular. If we are still using traditional manufacturing, we will not be able to compete with the larger prosthetics companies. Processes like CNC machining and injection molding, which have higher initial costs, especially trying to prototype multiple iterations, are astronomical for us.”
The prosthesis weighs only 490 grams, which is lighter than a typical adult hand. The fingers can be rotated electrically and manually, while all five fingers can be flexed and extended. The Ability Hand charges using USB-C can be fully charged in about an hour and can run all day on a single charge.
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