New hand? Just blow…

Scientists in the US have built an inflatable prosthetic hand that can be controlled with the mind and is 20 times cheaper to make than existing varieties.

The device can pick up electrical signals coursing through a wearer’s arm. When they imagine making a fist with their absent hand, for example, the prosthetic picks up the muscle signals and makes a fist.

The inflatable hand can perform at least four types of grasp: making a fist, cupping the palm, and pinching two or three fingers together. In tests, wearers were able to pour juice from a carton, zip up a suitcase, stroke a cat and shake hands.