“Fluidhand,” a prosthetic hand from Karlsruhe that can move each finger separately and has a wide range of grip configurations, is being tested at Orthopedic University Hospital in Heidelberg.

It can close around objects, even those with irregular surfaces. A large contact surface and soft, passive form elements reduce the gripping power required to hold onto such an object. The hand also feels softer, more elastic, and more natural than conventional hard prosthetic devices.