"Luke Arm" Receives FDA Approval

After nearly eight years of development and testing, this robotic arm for amputees has been approved for commercialization by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The "Luke Arm," whose official name is DEKA Arm System, is one of the most advanced robotic prostheses ever built. Its creators nicknamed it the "Luke Arm," after Luke Skywalker’s ultra-advanced bionic limb.

What makes the DEKA Arm unique is that it can carry out multiple, simultaneous powered movements, and its wrist and fingers can adjust its positions to perform six different user-selectable grips. In addition, force sensors let the robotic hand precisely control its grasp.

via IEEE SPECTRUM