Bionics’ patented pulsing technology to provide increasing
and controllable grip strength. When the i-LIMB Pulse
closes on an object, the user has the option to use the
pulsing feature to apply significant additional grip force,
allowing the device to grasp an object more tightly. These
high-frequency electronic pulses are very important in
everyday activities for users, such as tying shoelaces or
doing-up a belt.
With an aluminium chassis, the i-LIMB Pulse’s robust
design features make it Touch Bionics’ toughest prosthetic
device yet, capable of carrying a load of up to 90 kg.
"The i-LIMB Pulse is a very exciting technology
development, particularly for someone like myself, who is
looking to get back to a level of duty in the fire service,"
said Ian Reid, a firefighter from Thurso in Scotland, who
lost his right hand in a tragic holiday bus crash in 2003,
and the first person to be fitted with an i-LIMB Pulse. "The
pulsing effect, increased robustness, and range of grip
features will hopefully give me the increased level of
function I’m looking for."
With a range of automated features that allow various
combinations of grip patterns and other digit-postures to
be activated by the user, the i-LIMB Pulse offers an
unparalleled degree of flexibility to its users. Patterns like
index point, precision pinch, lateral key grip, and three jaw
chuck (tripod) are all now easily activated in a single action
by the user.
Key to the i-LIMB Pulse is BioSim, Touch Bionics’ new
Bluetooth-enabled software that allows prosthetists and —
for the first time ever — users (using MyBioSim) to select
the features and control strategies that work best for
them.
For prosthetists, BioSim is a complete software toolset
that allows clinical practitioners to customize the i-LIMB
Pulse to the specific needs of the user. It allows real-time
assessment of users’ myoelectric impulses with the ability
to adjust gain and threshold settings, select different
control strategies, and enable or disable features and
grips, including the pulsing effect.
BioSim also provides statistical analysis and
documentation of the device wearer’s usage patterns — a
feature designed to improve patient outcomes and
training.
The i-LIMB Pulse began shipping June 1, 2010, and
Touch Bionics is currently accepting orders on the product.
For further information, please contact:
Touch
Bionics
Website: www.touchbionics.com
SOFTWARE
RobotBASIC 4.1 Now Available
RobotBASIC has released Version 4.1 of their free robot control language. New in this version are
parameterized subroutines with local variables making it
easy to create includable libraries and pseudo object-oriented code. Multimedia extensions have been added to
allow control of a new audio/video window and to record
audio files under program supervision.
RobotBASIC
Website: www.RobotBASIC.com
KITS
Low Capacitance DMM Adaptor
Many modern multimeters come with capacitance ranges, but they're not helpful for very small values.
Jaycar Electronics has a new kit that is an adaptor that
allows a standard digital multimeter to measure very low
values of capacitance from less than one picofarad to over
10 nF. It allows measurement of tiny capacitors or stray
capacitances in switches, connectors, and wiring. The kit is
complete with PCB, components, and case. Simply add a
9V battery and just about any modern DMM.
For further information, please contact:
Jaycar Electronics
Website: www.jaycar.com.au
Show Us What You’ve Got!
Is your product innovative, less expensive, more
functional, or just plain cool? If you have a new
product that you would like us to run in our New
Products section, please email a short description
(300-500 words) and a photo of your product to:
newproducts@servomagazine.com
SERVO 07.2010 19
