bebionic, the next generation of fully articulating myoelectric hands, was officially launched to the international market at the combined meeting of the 13th ISPO World Congress and Orthopädie & Reha-Technik international trade show on May 12-15, 2010, in Leipzig, Germany. If you couldn’t make it, read on to find out more.
bebionic has been designed to strike the perfect balance between advanced technology and aesthetics. The system includes a myoelectric adult hand featuring four functional grip patterns: tripod, power, key, and finger point. The hands are proportional, allowing the user to control the speed and strength of the hand. Through controllable grip force, delicate tasks such as manipulating an egg or holding a filled polystyrene cup can be mastered as easily as crushing an empty drink can.
The hand has two user-selectable thumb positions: opposed and non-opposed, with a built-in sensor that detects the thumb position. Each articulated finger is driven by individual actuators that help each digit to move and grip in a natural and coordinated way, providing compliant and conformable grips around complex shapes.
On-board microprocessors constantly monitor the position of the fingers so that grip sequences are accurate, ensuring a confident and reliable grip for the user every time. The hand electronics also include an auto-grip feature that senses if the gripped item is slipping, and will automatically provide additional power to maintain a secure and safe hold.
bebionic’s design positions the motors in the palm, reducing the relative weight while the soft palm aids object-grasp and suppresses motor noise. Each finger features a spring-return allowing the fingers to naturally flex when loaded, enabling wearers to push down on their bebionic hand to support themselves when standing up from a chair.
Realistic Skin
The bebionic range is complemented by the addition of a highly cosmetic and robust silicone glove featuring an integral mesh for durability. Each glove is available in a choice of 19 skin shades, in male or female finishes, and with RSLSteeper’s unique Truefinish™ micro-pigmentation for additional depth and realism. Individually crafted silicone nails are added to further enhance the cosmetic realism.
Customizing Software
The hand is supplied with a wireless programmer and bebalance software. This allows the hand’s performance and control options to be completely customized to each user. Certified clinicians will be able to select and rank the grips available to the user, as well as fine-tune the speed and grip range, modify operating thresholds, and change other signal features.
bebionic will be available in the United States through SPS via a sole distribution agreement with RSLSteeper, starting in July 2010.
