'Luke arm' prosthesis upgraded to feel hot and cold

Prosthetic technology has been with us for hundreds of years, but the majority that are installed by doctors are just lumps of material - lacking any sensory feedback. A group of researchers at Washington University are hoping to change that.

They're developing a device which has the ability to stimulate the nerves in the upper arm and give its users the ability to feel hot, cold and a sense of touch. The technology may find its way into the 'Luke Arm', a DARPA-funded prosthesis named after the one given to Luke Skywalker following his battle with Darth Vader in The Empire Strikes Back.

The nerve interface device, which is a few millitres across, is implanted in the forearm of the recipient. It interfaces with the ulnar and median nerves in the arms - the former is connected to your ring and pinkie finger and causes the fuzzy feeling when you bang your funnybone, while the latter is connected to the other fingers, controlling sensation and movement.

The lab, which has been given a $1.9 million grant from DARPA to research the technology, has already conducted successful experiments in rats. The next step is to test the device on non-human primates, training them to play a joystick-controlled game in return for fruit juice. "We want to determine what they can perceive through artificial stimulation of the nerves," Said Daniel Moran, who's leading the work.

If successful, the group will be the first in the world to achieve this kind of result in primates and that could pave the way for the technology to be included in prosthetics being developed elsewhere, including the 'Luke Arm' which is capable of six different grips. By enabling touch, it's hoped users will gain even more control of their prosthesis, leading to a better experience overall.

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