When a group of final year engineering students from Kottayam set out to explore natural alternatives to modern prosthetics, they never expected their classroom project to evolve into a patented innovation. But that is exactly what happened when they combined traditional plant fibres with muscle-sensing technology to create a functional artificial hand.

The team from Saintgits College of Engineering here has now secured a patent for developing a myoelectric prosthetic hand made using kenaf fibres, a plant-based material commonly found in parts of northern India and China, blended with nickel fibres. The device operates by detecting electrical signals generated by muscles in the human body, allowing it to perform hand-like movements.

According to Aju Jo Sankarathil, faculty member of Mechanical Engineering department and project mentor, the prosthetic can be produced at a lower cost compared to many existing models. “It works with the help of sensors that detect muscle signals. Since it’s made using natural fibres, it also supports the move away from synthetic materials,” he said.

The prototype was developed by final-year mechanical engineering students Paul J. Illikkal, Melvin Santhosh Thomas, Neeraj Kumar V., and Muhammed Eesa K. A. The innovation has also won first prize in an international innovation contest organised by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

Mr. Sankarathil added that kenaf fibre composites can also be used in manufacturing vehicle interiors, construction materials, partition boards and postal boxes.

The team now plans to launch a startup with support from the Kerala Startup Mission. With growing interest in sustainable solutions, they believe plant-based products like this could have strong future demand.