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.
Friday, May 9, 2014
Prosthetic Arm with Feeling
http://www.livescience.com/43125-man-gets-first-bionic-hand-that-feels.html
Posted February of 2014. Moving away from the cost of prosthetic arms, this video shows an arm that allows the amputee to have feeling again. With electrodes being placed in the amputee's arm and touch sensors in the hand, the amputee could feel and grab objects properly.
Posted February of 2014. Moving away from the cost of prosthetic arms, this video shows an arm that allows the amputee to have feeling again. With electrodes being placed in the amputee's arm and touch sensors in the hand, the amputee could feel and grab objects properly.
Thursday, May 8, 2014
Comparing $42,000 Myoelectric Hand to $50 3D Printed Hand
http://3dprint.com/2438/50-prosthetic-3d-printed-hand/
Here's a link to an article posted on April 20, 2014. 53 year old Jose Delgado Jr, has been using a prosthetic hand for over a year that costs $42,000 dollars. Many people argue that the reason that these prosthetics are so expensive is because of how much more advanced and more comfortable they are for the amputee, so Jeremy Simon of 3D Universe wanted to meet with Jose to compare the $42k hand with his $50 3D printed hand. After Jose had met with Jeremy, he said that the 3D printed hand had better functionality and that he preferred it to his current myoelectric hand.
Here's a link to an article posted on April 20, 2014. 53 year old Jose Delgado Jr, has been using a prosthetic hand for over a year that costs $42,000 dollars. Many people argue that the reason that these prosthetics are so expensive is because of how much more advanced and more comfortable they are for the amputee, so Jeremy Simon of 3D Universe wanted to meet with Jose to compare the $42k hand with his $50 3D printed hand. After Jose had met with Jeremy, he said that the 3D printed hand had better functionality and that he preferred it to his current myoelectric hand.
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
Another Cheap Prosthetic Arm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02y8ZYduRvA
Another video that is a little more recent shows how well a prosthetic arm can be made for such a cheap price. Like the last video, the arm uses parts made with 3D printing. The arm in this video has a reduced amount of motors used to flex the fingers, from three to only one per finger. Also this hand uses a smart phone as a substitute for expensive processing devices.
Another video that is a little more recent shows how well a prosthetic arm can be made for such a cheap price. Like the last video, the arm uses parts made with 3D printing. The arm in this video has a reduced amount of motors used to flex the fingers, from three to only one per finger. Also this hand uses a smart phone as a substitute for expensive processing devices.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfmNXPMjChs
This video was posted in August of 2013. In my last article post I mentioned the high cost of prosthetics. A 17 year old from Colorado, Easton LaChappelle, also noticed this problem and decided to do something about it. He has created a high functioning prosthetic arm for a very low price. His prosthetic arm was being made with 3D printers and cost no more than $300 to make
This video was posted in August of 2013. In my last article post I mentioned the high cost of prosthetics. A 17 year old from Colorado, Easton LaChappelle, also noticed this problem and decided to do something about it. He has created a high functioning prosthetic arm for a very low price. His prosthetic arm was being made with 3D printers and cost no more than $300 to make
Monday, May 5, 2014
Thursday, May 1, 2014
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/back-future-world-diy-prosthetics/story?id=20726015
This video was posted in October of 2013. The bombing at the Boston Marathon was a tragedy and made many Americans recognize the large number of wounded soldiers that are amputees. It also helped show how advanced we have come in technology and in prosthetics. A victim in the Boston bombing that lost one of his legs has the first thought powered prosthetic leg which helped him to climb a 103 story building, the tallest in Chicago.However there is a problem with these prosthetic devices. They are very expensive, costing up to $50,000.
This video was posted in October of 2013. The bombing at the Boston Marathon was a tragedy and made many Americans recognize the large number of wounded soldiers that are amputees. It also helped show how advanced we have come in technology and in prosthetics. A victim in the Boston bombing that lost one of his legs has the first thought powered prosthetic leg which helped him to climb a 103 story building, the tallest in Chicago.However there is a problem with these prosthetic devices. They are very expensive, costing up to $50,000.
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