It is true that nothing can really replace a part of your body once you lose it. But, gone are the days when a man had to suffer because of his lost leg or hand, and he was subject to sympathy. Now the doctors and scientists have come up with such devices that can be replaced for our arms and legs.
A project that started as an answer to the US Military amputees have come up with some good news for the amputees worldwide. Prosthesis or the science of replacing the originally lost body parts with artificial parts has been touching new heights recently. The new challenge was to integrate our thought with the artificial parts. With the military action increasing and the number of amputees increasing every year in the US, the funds for such research have increased significantly over the years.
A group of government and private researchers and academicians have developed a mechanical arm that can be controlled by our thought, a knee that has artificial intelligence and a hand with completely articulated fingers. Now this hand can not only grasp things but also pinch if you don’t believe it. Sounds great, isn’t it!
Now, soon we would be having artificial limbs and arms that not only look original but function as one. Ian Fothergill, a prosthetic fitter and clinical manager for Ossur Americas, sees great potential in the growth in this field. He has designed limbs that boast of sensors that act in real time, using bluetooth technology.
The researchers have come up with Targeted Muscle Reinnervation (TMR), a method to integrate the working nerves of the amputee and the artificial part. The myoelectric sensors are injected into the amputee’s body, which then help the artificial limb to accept orders from the amputee’s brain. This technology is a blessing for the patients of Parkinson’s or spinal cord injuries.
The concept sounds like it has been take from the movie Spiderman 3 and Dr. Otto Octavius’s failed experiment. And, the truth may remain same that nothing can match the original part lost but at least we can lead our day to day life with ease. Yet, there is hope of a better life for growing number of amputees who are victims or war, accidents or diseases.
Source: MSNBC