Bionic hand for 'elective amputation' patient
From: BBC News - 05/18/2011
By: Neil Bowdler

An Austrian man has voluntarily had his hand amputated so he can be fitted
with a bionic limb. 

Such bionic hands, manufactured by the German prosthetics company Otto Bock,
can pinch and grasp in response to signals from the brain that are picked up
by two sensors placed over the skin above nerves in the forearm. 

In effect, the patient controls the hand using the same brain signals that
would have once powered similar movements in the real hand.  

The wrist of the prosthesis can be rotated manually using the patient's other
functioning hand (if the patient has one). 

Read the entire article at:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-13273348

Links:
Bionic revolution gathers pace
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-12490048

Man with bionic arm dies after Austria car crash
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11607930

Voluntary amputees opt for bionic hands over real ones
http://io9.com/5803399/voluntary-amputees-opt-for-bionic-hands-over-real-ones

Otto Bock
http://www.ottobockus.com/