MiniTouch Prosthetic Hand Restores Sense of Temperature
Author: School of Advanced Studies Sant'Anna
Published: 9 Feb 2024 - Updated: 4 Nov 2026
Publication Details: Peer-Reviewed | Case Study
Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - Overview - FAQs - Insights, Updates - Related Content
Synopsis
This research from the Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies in Pisa and EPFL in Lausanne, published in the peer-reviewed journal Med from Cell Press in 2024, describes MiniTouch, a device that adds temperature sensing to a prosthetic hand without surgery. A sensor on the fingertip sends thermal signals to a spot on the residual arm that produces a feeling of warmth or cold in the missing hand, known as a phantom thermal sensation. A 57-year-old man with a below-elbow amputation sorted bottles of cold, cool and hot water with 100 percent accuracy using the device, compared with 33 percent without it, and his ability to tell a human arm from a prosthetic one rose from 60 to 80 percent. The work matters to upper limb amputees because temperature and the warmth of human contact add safety, function and a stronger sense that the hand belongs to them.*
At a Glance
- 1 - The device uses off-the-shelf electronics and needs no surgery.
- 2 - MiniTouch can be added to commercially available prosthetic hands.
- 3 - Clinical tests took place at the INAIL prosthesis center near Bologna.
- 4 - The team aims to combine touch, pressure and temperature in one system and make it ready for home use.
Topic Definition
- Phantom Thermal Sensation
Phantom thermal sensation is the experience, reported by some people after an amputation, of feeling warmth or cold in a missing limb when specific points on the residual limb are warmed or cooled. Researchers use these spots, which map to parts of the missing hand or arm, to deliver temperature information from sensors on a prosthesis so the user feels it as coming from the artificial limb.
Overview
Thanks to a sensorised prosthetic hand that provides realistic and real-time thermal feedback, Fabrizio, a 57-year-old man from Pistoia with a transradial (below-elbow) amputation, was able to discriminate between and manually sort objects of different temperatures or materials and sense bodily contact with other humans.
"When one of the researchers placed the sensor on his own body, I could feel the warmth of another person with my phantom hand. It was a very strong emotion for me, it was like reactivating a connection with someone".
The new technology is presented in a study published in the journal Med (Cell Press); the work is the result of a scientific collaboration between the Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies in Pisa (Italy) and École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (Switzerland). This is the first time that natural temperature sensations are incorporated in a functional artificial limb*.
"Temperature is one of the last frontiers to restoring sensation to robotic hands. For the first time, we're really close to restoring the full palette of sensations to amputees" says Professor Silvestro Micera (Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies and EPFL), joint senior author of the study.
Towards a Hand Prosthesis Capable of Restoring a Full Palette of Sensations
Sensory feedback is one of the most important steps to allowing people with an amputation to interact with their environment. Building on previous findings on phantom thermal sensations (stimulation of specific points on the residual arm to evoke perceptions in the missing hand), researchers have developed a device, the 'MiniTouch', which allows amputees to perceive and respond to temperature by transmitting thermal information from the fingertip of the prosthetic hand to the amputee's residual arm. The device uses off-the-shelf electronics, can be integrated into commercially available prosthetic limbs, and does not require surgery.
"This is a very simple idea that can be easily integrated into commercial prostheses" adds Micera.
"Adding temperature information makes the touch more human-like," says Dr. Solaiman Shokur, joint senior author, of École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne. "We think having the ability to sense temperature will improve amputees' embodiment - the feeling that 'this hand is mine'."
"Up to now, thermal sensations have been very much neglected in neuroprosthetics research even if there is increasing evidence of their importance in our everyday life. We think that amputee individuals could benefit from regaining temperature sensations well beyond the detection of cold or warm objects" says Jonathan Muheim, PhD student at EPFL and co-first author of the paper.
How the MiniTouch Device Works
The testing phase was carried out at the Inail Prosthesis Centre in Vigorso di Budrio (Bologna)** with the cooperation of Dr. Emanuele Gruppioni (INAIL) and his team, who carried out the clinical tests with the amputees. The device was integrated into the patient's personal prosthesis and was attached to a point on the same residual limb, producing thermal sensations in the person's phantom index finger.
The research team tested the amputee's ability to distinguish between objects of different temperatures and materials. Using the MiniTouch, the patient was able to discriminate between three visually indistinguishable bottles containing cold, cool and hot water with 100% accuracy, whereas, without the device, his accuracy was only 33%. The MiniTouch device also improved his ability to accurately and quickly classify metal cubes of different temperatures.
"When you reach a certain level of dexterity with robotic hands, you really need to have sensory feedback to really be able to use the robotic hand to its full potential," says Solaiman Shokur.
In addition, the MiniTouch device improved the participant's ability to differentiate between human and prosthetic arms while blindfolded - from 60% without the device to 80% with the device. Several amputees participating in the initial trials reported that the ability to rediscover body contact with another person was the most important benefit of the system.
"Our goal now is to develop a multimodal system that integrates touch, perception, and temperature sensations," says Shokur. "With that type of system, people will be able to tell you 'this is soft and hot', or 'this is hard and cold'."
The technology is currently being tested in the laboratory. The next step will be to make the device ready for home use and to integrate thermal information from multiple points of an amputee's phantom limb: for example, allowing people to differentiate thermal and tactile sensations on their finger and thumb might help them grasp a hot beverage, while enabling sensation in the back of the hand might improve the feeling of human connection by allowing amputees to sense when another person touches their hand.
Silvestro Micera concluded:
"This study paves the way for more natural hand prostheses that restore a full range of sensations, offering amputees a richer and more natural perception of the tactile world".
Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies
The Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies (Pisa, Italy) is a public university working in the field of applied sciences: Economics and Management, Law, Political Sciences, Agricultural Sciences and Plant Biotechnology, Medicine, and Industrial and Information Engineering. It is first in the list of Italian Universities, and consistently in the top 2% globally in the Times Higher Education Young University Rankings.
*This research was supported by the Bertarelli Foundation, the Swiss National Science Foundation, the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program, the Horizon Europe Research & Innovation Programme and the Ministry of University and Research.
**INAIL is the Italian National Institute for Insurance against Accidents at Work.
Frequently Asked Questions
NOTE: Researched FAQs by Disabled World (DW)
What is a transradial amputation?
A transradial amputation is a below-elbow amputation through the forearm, leaving the elbow joint in place.
Do current prosthetic hands provide any sense of touch?
Most commercial prosthetic hands provide little or no sensory feedback, although some offer vibration cues, and research devices are testing touch, pressure and temperature.
What is a myoelectric prosthesis?
A myoelectric prosthesis uses electrical signals from muscles in the residual limb, picked up by sensors on the skin, to open, close and move the artificial hand.
What is prosthetic embodiment?
Embodiment is the feeling that a prosthesis is part of your own body rather than a tool. Sensory feedback is thought to strengthen this feeling.
Is phantom limb sensation common?
Yes, most people feel some sensation in a missing limb after amputation, ranging from tingling or position sense to pain.
Why is temperature feedback important for safety?
Without it, a prosthesis user may not notice that an object is dangerously hot or cold, such as a hot pan or cup of coffee.
When might MiniTouch be available to patients?
It was still being tested in the lab when the study was published, and further trials are needed before it could be offered for home use.
How can amputees take part in prosthetics research?
Prosthetists, rehabilitation centers and university labs often recruit participants, and ClinicalTrials.gov lists some studies.
Insights, Analysis, and Developments
Editorial Note: Most prosthetic hands today can grip and move but tell the user almost nothing about what they are touching, so people rely on sight and guesswork, which can lead to dropped objects or burns. Adding temperature is a step toward prostheses that feel like part of the body, and the participant's description of feeling another person's warmth shows how much the emotional side of touch matters. The results come from a small number of users in the lab, so longer tests in daily life are needed before the device can be prescribed. Amputees interested in sensory feedback can ask their prosthetist about current research programs and clinical trials.*
Attribution/Source(s): This peer-reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally issued as a press release by School of Advanced Studies Sant'Anna and published on 9 Feb 2024. Last updated on 4 Nov 2026. This content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity.
* Editorial additions by Ian C. Langtree.