Systematic Review on Recent Challenges in Artificial Skin for Sensory Feedback in Hand Prosthetics

The development of sensory feedback through artificial skin holds significant technological challenges, despite the importance of bidirectionality in hand prosthetics. This systematic review examines recent advancements and the remaining hurdles in creating artificial skin that can provide realistic sensory feedback in modern hand prosthetics. The sensory mechanisms, which detect stimuli and translate them into a coherent signal for the device, include triboelectric nanogenerators, piezoelectric pressure sensors, and hydrogel skin simulators. The feedback mechanisms, which transmit these signals to the user, include transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, haptic feedback, and intraneural stimulation. Having compiled a series of recent developments in artificial skin and sensory feedback, it will provide an overview of challenges in sensory and feedback mechanisms. On top of individual problems with each mechanism ranging from manufacturing difficulty to scalability, the review found that the lack of research and development is likely due to the novelty of sensory feedback in prosthetic devices. The review evaluated the feasibility and potential of integrating these technologies into practical, user-friendly prosthetic hands, demonstrating the need for scalable, efficient solutions to enhance user comfort and functionality.