Improving daily activities with a new prosthetic hand for people with limb loss

Toward use of the synergy-based SoftHand Pro for activities of daily living by transradial amputees: A multi-site clinical trial

['FUNDING_R01'] · ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY-TEMPE CAMPUS · NIH-11129847

This project is testing a new type of prosthetic hand, called the SoftHand Pro, to help people who have lost a hand perform everyday tasks more easily.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_R01']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY-TEMPE CAMPUS (nih funded)
Locations1 site (SCOTTSDALE, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11129847 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

Losing a hand can make many daily activities challenging, impacting quality of life and work. Current prosthetic hands often don't fully meet the needs of individuals with limb loss, struggling with everyday tasks and durability. This project introduces the SoftHand Pro, a unique prosthetic hand that combines human hand movement principles with soft robotics technology. We are exploring how well this innovative hand helps people with upper limb loss grasp and manipulate objects, aiming to improve their independence and ability to participate in daily life.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 21 and older who have experienced transradial amputation (loss of a hand below the elbow).

Not a fit: Patients without upper limb loss or those with different types of limb loss may not directly benefit from this specific prosthetic hand.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this new prosthetic hand could offer individuals with upper limb loss greater independence and improved ability to perform a wide range of daily activities.

How similar studies have performed: Preliminary assessments have shown that individuals with upper limb loss could perform various grasping and manipulation tasks with the SoftHand Pro, indicating promising initial results for this novel approach.

Where this research is happening

SCOTTSDALE, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.