Design and Control Innovations in Prosthetic Hands: From Appearance to Advanced Functionality

Dear Colleagues,

Recent innovations in prosthetic limb technology, particularly in the design and control of prosthetic hands, have advanced the field by improving movement precision, user comfort, and intuitive control through wireless and neural interfaces. This Special Issue aims to explore the latest developments in prosthetic hands, focusing on both engineering solutions and clinical applications. With an emphasis on prosthetic hands, fingers, and upper limb control systems, the Issue will feature research that has pushed the boundaries of material design, control systems, and user-centered approaches.

We invite original research articles, reviews, and case studies from interdisciplinary teams that address the challenges in prosthetic hand design, operation control, and rehabilitation. Special consideration will be given to studies that explore the integration of artificial intelligence, neural interfaces, and 3D printing technology to create more lightweight, functional, and affordable prosthetic hands. Contributions highlighting novel control systems, such as motor-based control without reliance on the forearm, wireless system control, and mind-controlled interfaces, are highly encouraged.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Lightweight prosthetic hand designs;
• Soft, flexible prosthetic hands and fingers;
• Motor-based control systems within the hand, eliminating external mechanisms;
• Operation management and real-time control of prosthetic hands via mobile apps or wireless systems;
• Advances in material science (e.g., silicone, smart materials, 3D printing) for prosthetic hands;
• Clinical applications and rehabilitation techniques for improved hand functionality;
• Biomechanics and human–prosthetic interaction;
• Neural and AI-based control mechanisms for prosthetic limbs;
• User-centered design and customization;
• Affordability and accessibility challenges in prosthetic limb technology;
• Control interfaces for prosthetic hands, including mobile and wireless control;
• Theory and application of mind-controlled prosthetics.

We welcome submissions from researchers, engineers, clinicians, and interdisciplinary teams working at the forefront of prosthetic technology and rehabilitation. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive collection of studies that not only showcases the latest advancements but also addresses the practical challenges of making prosthetic hands more functional, accessible, and adaptable to users’ needs.

Prof. Dr. Wenjun (Chris) Zhang
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Bioengineering is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• prosthetic hands
• biomechanics
• neural control systems
• soft prosthetics
• advanced materials
• user-centered design
• 3D printing in prosthetics
• wireless control systems
• mind-controlled prosthetics