While I have seen and read a lot about how the prosthetic devices are being made to connect to the brain better, I have not seen much about exercises that help the brain adapt better with the prosthetic. One activity that I very much enjoy is playing the drums, and I think that this would be a great way for amputees to better adapt to their prosthetic arms. Rhythmic exercises have been known to improve peoples motor function. If an amputee with a prosthetic arm or hand was given a book of simple exercises or rudiments that are meant to help improve an individuals rhythm, I believe that the amputee would gain better, more natural control of his or her prosthesis.
Monday, May 26, 2014
My Innovative Idea
While I have seen and read a lot about how the prosthetic devices are being made to connect to the brain better, I have not seen much about exercises that help the brain adapt better with the prosthetic. One activity that I very much enjoy is playing the drums, and I think that this would be a great way for amputees to better adapt to their prosthetic arms. Rhythmic exercises have been known to improve peoples motor function. If an amputee with a prosthetic arm or hand was given a book of simple exercises or rudiments that are meant to help improve an individuals rhythm, I believe that the amputee would gain better, more natural control of his or her prosthesis.
Friday, May 23, 2014
Prosthetic Cooling System
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2014/05/u-s-army-veteran-turns-injury-into-innovative-startup/
Posted May 8, 2014. When amputees stop wearing their prosthesis, many times it is because of the heat between the stump and the artificial limb; this can cause the leg to be very uncomfortable and cause blistering. U.S. Army Veteran Gary Walters noticed that there was not much that could be done to fix this problem, and wanted to fix it himself. He, along with a couple of his friends at University of Texas San Antonio developed the Aquilonix Prosthesis Cooling System. They created a system that thermoelectrically cools and dissipates heat from between the residual limb and the socket. This eliminates the heating and sweating that causes the amputees to be uncomfortable.
Posted May 8, 2014. When amputees stop wearing their prosthesis, many times it is because of the heat between the stump and the artificial limb; this can cause the leg to be very uncomfortable and cause blistering. U.S. Army Veteran Gary Walters noticed that there was not much that could be done to fix this problem, and wanted to fix it himself. He, along with a couple of his friends at University of Texas San Antonio developed the Aquilonix Prosthesis Cooling System. They created a system that thermoelectrically cools and dissipates heat from between the residual limb and the socket. This eliminates the heating and sweating that causes the amputees to be uncomfortable.
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Making Prosthetics Look More Natural
http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/blog/techflash/2014/05/unyq-brings-3-d-fashion-to-prosthetics.html?page=all
This article was posted on May 15, 2014. Eythor Bender, working with Unyq, has designed a website for amputees to design affordable decorative to be 3D printed and used to cover their prosthetic limbs. Prosthetics have become extremely advanced, technologically, in recent years, but not much effort has been put into making the limbs look more natural. Bendor's co-founder Manuel Boza developed Unyq's 3D printing process which cuts costs by relying on computer models made from digital photographs that the customers take of their natural and prosthetic limbs. Along with lowering costs, this help the amputee's prosthetic to look symmetric to their natural limb.
This article was posted on May 15, 2014. Eythor Bender, working with Unyq, has designed a website for amputees to design affordable decorative to be 3D printed and used to cover their prosthetic limbs. Prosthetics have become extremely advanced, technologically, in recent years, but not much effort has been put into making the limbs look more natural. Bendor's co-founder Manuel Boza developed Unyq's 3D printing process which cuts costs by relying on computer models made from digital photographs that the customers take of their natural and prosthetic limbs. Along with lowering costs, this help the amputee's prosthetic to look symmetric to their natural limb.
FDA approves new prosthetic arm for sale
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2626171/Luke-Skywalker-arm-gets-ahead-FDA-approves-mind-controlled-robotic-limb-developed-creator-Segway.html
This is a very recent article posted in May of 2014. This Deka arm shown in the video allows for amputees to perform gentle tasks such as picking up eggs. This prosthetic arm, has just been approved for sale by the FDA making it the most technologically advanced prosthetic arm on the market. With a combination of switches, movement sensors, and force sensors, the prosthesis gives the amputee a lot of dexterity. The FDA found that 90% of this new arm's users were able to do tasks that they were unable to do with their previous prosthesis.
Monday, May 19, 2014
Should Prosthetic Limbs be More Advanced by Now?
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/274676.php
This article was posted March 2014. According to the CEO of Alfred Mann foundations, David Hankin, the key to succeeding in prosthetics is enabling the amputees to perform everyday activities with natural ease. A major problem today is the rejection of prosthetic limbs usually because they feel uncomfortable wearing them or the limbs are not able to perform daily activities effectively. In order for a prosthetic limb to function as a normal arm, it is essential for the hand to be able to send sensory information back to the brain. This will help reach the ultimate goal of allowing amputees to be able to carry out daily functions naturally and effectively.
This article was posted March 2014. According to the CEO of Alfred Mann foundations, David Hankin, the key to succeeding in prosthetics is enabling the amputees to perform everyday activities with natural ease. A major problem today is the rejection of prosthetic limbs usually because they feel uncomfortable wearing them or the limbs are not able to perform daily activities effectively. In order for a prosthetic limb to function as a normal arm, it is essential for the hand to be able to send sensory information back to the brain. This will help reach the ultimate goal of allowing amputees to be able to carry out daily functions naturally and effectively.
Thursday, May 15, 2014
Amazing New Prosthetic Limbs
http://www.ted.com/talks/hugh_herr_the_new_bionics_that_let_us_run_climb_and_dance
Another TED talk in March 2014. After seeing what cheaper prosthetic legs look like, this video shows a newer leg that allows its users to be able to run, climb, and dance. Not only is the device more technologically advanced in the movements but also in the fitting. One of the biggest problems that amputees have is how uncomfortable it feels on their residual limbs. There's no point in making better prosthetic limbs if the amputees don't wear these limbs. This new prosthetic leg has a new way of fitting for synthetic skin over the residual limb by measuring pressure points on the leg so that the artificial limb is more comfortable.
Another TED talk in March 2014. After seeing what cheaper prosthetic legs look like, this video shows a newer leg that allows its users to be able to run, climb, and dance. Not only is the device more technologically advanced in the movements but also in the fitting. One of the biggest problems that amputees have is how uncomfortable it feels on their residual limbs. There's no point in making better prosthetic limbs if the amputees don't wear these limbs. This new prosthetic leg has a new way of fitting for synthetic skin over the residual limb by measuring pressure points on the leg so that the artificial limb is more comfortable.
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
$80 Prosthetic Knee
https://www.ted.com/talks/krista_donaldson_the_80_prosthetic_knee_that_s_changing_lives
December, 2013. Here is a video showing a new prosthetic knee that is able to serve high function and is also very affordable at only $80. While most above the knee prosthetics are being worn after a six months period 60% of the time, this new cheaper prosthetic knee is at a much higher 79%. This shows that the prosthetic leg is more comfortable, and more stable at a much better price. Being so affordable, this knee gives amputees living in poor countries the chance to have a high functioning prosthetic leg.
December, 2013. Here is a video showing a new prosthetic knee that is able to serve high function and is also very affordable at only $80. While most above the knee prosthetics are being worn after a six months period 60% of the time, this new cheaper prosthetic knee is at a much higher 79%. This shows that the prosthetic leg is more comfortable, and more stable at a much better price. Being so affordable, this knee gives amputees living in poor countries the chance to have a high functioning prosthetic leg.
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