Bionic hand allows human to "feel” real size, texture and shape of objects

First patient to test a sensory-enhanced prosthetic hand, which allowed him to “feel” the size, shape and texture of objects.

A man has become the first amputee to have a “lifelike” sense of touch restored to his lost limb in an advance that blurs the boundaries between human and machine.

Dennis Aabo Sorensen, a 36-year old property developer from Denmark, lost his left hand 10 years ago when a accident firework went off as he was about to light it during New Year’s Eve celebrations, said the hand was “amazing”.

"I didn't realize it was possible," said Dennis Aabo Sorensen from Denmark, who underwent the implant surgery in Italy and spent a month in a lab describing his experiences with the novel prosthetic to an international team of scientists. "The feeling is very close to the sensation you get when you touch things with your normal hand."

The developers are yet to establish how well the electrodes will keep without deterioration in the long run, although Sorensen’s result was promising and gives hope that the electrodes will function for several years without causing harm.

There is also an issue of miniaturization. All the equipment and cabling would have to fit inside a prosthesis to be practical.

This photo released by Lifehand2 shows amputee Dennis Aabo Sorensen wearing a sensory feedback enabled prosthetic in Rome in March 2013 (Lifehand2/AFP/File, Patrizia Tocci)

This photo release by Lifehand2 shows amputee Dennis Aabo Sorensen (L foreground) wearing a sensory feedback enabled prosthetic in Rome in March 2013 (Lifehand2/AFP, Patrizia Tocci)