A Breath-Powered Prosthetic Hand

Engineers from the University of Oxford’s Department of Engineering and Science hav devised a new hand prosthetic that’s controlled by the breath of the wearer. The simple, lightweight device provides an alternative to Bowden cable-driven, body-powered prosthetics developed in the 19th century and still widely used today. Although several different prosthetic options exist, the most popular upper-limb prosthesis remains the cable-driven body-powered system, which can be expensive to own in lower-income communities due to the costs associated with the necessary professional fitting and maintenance.

The new design provides an alternative body-powered device for users in situations where cost, maintenance, comfort and ease of use are primary considerations. “Our breathing-powered device provides a novel prosthetic option that can be used without limiting any of the user’s body movements,” states University of Oxford professor Jeroen Bergmann. “It is one of the first truly new design approaches for power and control of a body-powered prosthetic since the emergence of the cable-driven system over two centuries ago.”

The team created the prosthetic using a small Tesla turbine that controls finger movement by regulating the wearer’s breath. Moreover, the amount of air power needed to actuate the fingers is surprisingly small, allowing children to use the device. It’s also cable and harness-free and requires minimal maintenance and training, so anyone can use it without the need to be fitted. The engineers hope their breakthrough will make prosthetics more widely accessible and help overcome challenges with current options.