i-Limb by Touch Bionics

The Six Million Dollar Man is still far off into the future. But in the meantime there’s the $18,000 Man.

An article from National Geographic states that new Bionic Hand technology has been unveiled in Britain. The advanced hand can be controlled by the patient’s mind and muscles. It’s called the i-Limb, and it’s from a company called Touch Bionics.

The i-Limb has fully functional motorized digits that move and bend independently. Electrodes taped to the skin transmit signals to tiny motors that power the fingers.

Hey, Can I get one of those?

Previous artificial hands had only a thumb and forefinger that worked in a clawlike grasping action. But the new device allows amputees to carry out more delicate movements such as peeling a banana, typing on a computer, or eating with a knife and fork. The i-Limb is also covered by a semitransparent “cosmesis” that is computer modeled to look like human skin.

Touch Bionics, based in Scotland, put the i-Limb up for sale for the price of £8,500 (about $17,454 US).

The iLimb. It even plays mp3s.

The UK Register reports that the i-limb was a big hit with Iraq veterans. It also brings up the uncomfortable thought that Steve Jobs may want to sue them in the future over the name.

Steve Austin not impressed.

The iLimb also boasts a range of different grips and configurations, and can rotate about the wrist axis. This allows a user to turn a key in a lock, pick up or manipulate objects between thumb and index or middle finger, or type (though only with the index finger). The extended index finger option is also useful for pointing, seemingly, and an “OK” sign is also achievable. There was no mention of any option to extend the middle finger alone or first two fingers simultaneously – which would seem an obvious necessity.