Start-up comes up with bionic hand

3-D printed device is cheaper, user-friendly

A city-based start-up has come out with the prototype of a low-cost bionic hand that can help forearm amputees regain a measure of their grasping and holding capabilities.

On view at the ‘FAYA:80’ technology conference organised by the Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) in association with NASSCOM and ICFOSS, the 3-D printed device drew praise from participants in the conference.

At ₹1-1.25 lakh

Sanju Mathew, CEO of Onbyz, the firm that has come up with the device, said that when the prototype hit the market, it would be possible to price it at ₹1-1.25 lakh against the current market price of ₹10 lakh. The prototype was potentially much more customisable and user-friendly than products currently available, he said.

Onbyz’s bionic hand works through electrodes that transmit signal over wires from the intact nerves and muscles in the elbow to a microprocessor that directs the digits to move. This allows the user to manipulate the hand to grip objects. While the movement is not real-time yet, the lag between signal input and output is expected to decrease further along the development process.

The device comes with a graphic interface. Onbyz has included a slip sensor system at just ₹400 that utilises an array of six sensors to gauge the pressure required to hold objects and is sensitive enough to differentiate between a plastic bottle and a paper cup. The system also uses precision sensors to measure distance and changes in the weight of objects, Mr. Mathew said.