Photo: EPFL
Fabrizio Fidati, who lost his right hand 25 years ago, had not felt cold or heat in his missing fingers until a recent Swiss bionic technology trial when he felt hot or cold sensations in the phantom hand and fingers as well as directly on his residual arm. Thermal electrodes were placed on the skin of his residual arm in the trials at the École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne. The 59-year-old Italian is among 27 amputees who took part, with 17 reporting success. The technology can be worn on the skin and combined with a regular prosthetic. "Temperature feedback is essential for relaying information that goes beyond touch, it leads to feelings of affection,” said EPFL professor Silvestro Micera. “We are social beings and warmth is an important part of that."
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