The Technology Of Prosthetics

Prosthetics once made from wood now are made of stronger and lighter materials such as carbon fiber, titanium and kevlar. Artificial limbs are more efficient than ever. With the somewhat recent inclusion of myoelectric sensors, microprocessors, hydraulics and other technology we are making truly amazing adaptive devices. If you follow exponential increases in technology, the future of prosthetics along with many other things, is very exciting indeed.

Where We Are We Now
Prosthetic Feet
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The innovation of carbon fiber feet has brought about a lighter, stronger and more efficient foot than ever before. Most prosthetic feet today absorb and return energy due to their 'flex' and 'spring like' properties. Some of these feet offer such great properties that there is a growing consensus they may even give amputees an unfair advantage in some circumstances.
You may be familiar with the controversy involving Paralympian sprinter Oscar Pistorius . The amputee athlete was banned from Olympic trials due to possibly having an 'unfair advantage'. There were concerns that Pistorius' prosthetic feet gave him better than human running capabilities.
Oscar Pistorius 400 Meter Race at the 2008 Paralympic Games.
I personally do not feel that Mr. Pistorius has an advantage over other able bodied athletes. Test on and off the field have shown that he actually may still be at a disadvantage to an able bodied runner. I do feel in time, as technology increasingly advances, an amputee athlete could be at an advantage. If we follow the normal progression in technology, it definitely seems like a possibility. Able bodied athletes will continue to improve as they consistently have over time with better training techniques and equipment. The real question is will advances in artificial limbs surpass those of real ones?
Oscar in a motivational Nike Advertisement.

Prosthetic Arms and Hands
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Myoelectric technology has greatly advanced upper extremity artificial devices. A myoelectric arm works by placing sensors on the wearer's skin. By flexing and contracting muscles where the sensors are placed, the prosthetic device can be controlled. Artificial hand, wrist and elbow movement is possible with the use of multiple sensors.
A 5.5 minute video showing the inner workings of Myoelectric Technology.
With advancements in microprocessors the fine movement of prosthetic arms has become much wider. A user is now able to gently or firmly grab objects and simultaneously use different functions of the arm.
The Utah Arm Video.
 More information about the Utah Arm
The first electronic hands would just open and close, like a large pincher. Hands such as the The I-Limb have separate individually powered digits. The multi-articulating I-Limb has has various grip modes which can greatly improve a wearer's quality of life.

Prosthetic Knees
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There are many types of knee systems out there for amputees. The advances in technology, even in non-automated knees has improved vastly. There are manual knees that use variable friction or hydraulics to control knee swing and resistance. These knees offer an assortment of various walking options and stumble recovery.
Microprocessor knees come with technology that can learn the wearers walking patterns. Timing, force and swing sensors take readings multiple times per second as the amputee ambulates. The information provided by the sensors is used instantly to adjust the hydraulic knee accordingly. The knee will swing faster as the walker speeds up, offer more resistance when going down a hill, aid in stumble recovery and so fourth.
Bi-Lateral Amputees attack a ramp using the C-Leg.
Link with info about current microprocessor knees on the market: Electronic Knees

Where Things Are Headed
This section to features devices that are not widely available yet. I wanted to give a view of where prosthetics are headed. Smart prosthetics, like smart phones, are increasingly becoming more intelligent and offering more features.
Prosthetic Feet Of The Future
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There are only a few electronic feet currently being mass manufactured at this time. However many prototype feet are in development. While manual feet do mimic some human like movement, researchers are taking electronic feet to the next level.
The Proprio Foot and iWalk are two hi-tech feet currently in production.
Electronic Knees Of The Future
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There are microprocessor knees that currently adjust resistance while a person is walking. Researchers are developing prosthetic knees that push and pull the user, copying muscle movement. A knee that propels a person forward can give additional assistance up a hill, incline or stairs. Making foot over foot ambulation possible.
Links to cutting edge prosthetic knees:
Otto Bock Genium Bionic System
The Otto Bock X2 Knee
The Power Knee
Berkley Robotics Prototype Knee

Osseointegration
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The technology of attaching a prosthesis directly to the human skeletal system is known as osseointegration. It is not a certainty that osseointegration is going to be widely used to fuse prosthetics more closely to the body. There is research being done to explore the feasibility of this technology. Firmly securing a prosthetic device to your limb is essential for efficiency. Presently it is still being debated if the upside the technology offers outweighs many of it's potential risk. Rejection, skeletal damage and infection are some of the possible current side effects of this procedure. None the less, osseointegration along with similar fields of study may eventually lead to creation of a more stable and personal prosthetic device.
Ossointegration Walking

Nerve Controlled Prosthetics
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Targeted sensory reinnervation is a surgical processes of installing residual nerves from an amputated limb path into alternative muscle tissue close to the skin. Sensors can be attached to the newly created nerve sites which fire electrical signals to operate a prosthesis.
A video exploring and explaining Reinnervation Technology

Mind Controlled Prosthetics
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I did not talk about auditory controlled devices (talk about...auditory...get it???). Those of us that text, speed dial and search the internet using voice commands know it is a reality already. Another signal that is greatly being explored are the electric signals we emit when firing brain neurons. There are many brain controlled prototype devices already being developed for people with spinal cord injuries. Using BCI (brain controlled intrerface) to operate artificial limbs and a whole array of every day devices will be an eventual reality.
University Of Florida Prosthetic Research.
A 14 minute Stanford Lecture On BCI technology.

Robotics
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There isn't much doubt robotics will enevitably become a bigger part of the prosthetic picture. These videos, while not directly related to prosthetics, show some of the applications possible.
Robotic Hand
Violin Playing Robot
Boston Dynamics BIGDOG Robot
SARCOS Exoskeleton Robot
Honda ASIMO Robot

Humanitarian Concerns
Prosthetics For Everyone - Low Tech Prosthetics From High Tech Ideals
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My favorite thing that technology has accomplished is the economical production of prosthetics for people from all walks of life. There have been many prosthetic feet, knees and sockets developed using modest means. Many affordable prosthetic devices would not be possible if it were not for original research in technology. Futuristic and high tech prosthetics are very cool, but in many cases a low tech device is the best. A person that uses the device minimally due to their physical capabilities, someone that uses a special prosthesis for a recreational activity, an individual that is frequently exposed to the element and when there is no funding present due to an individuals economic circumstances; May all be times when a inexpensive but reliable prosthesis is called for.
Even though these links are not to the latest and greatest prosthetic devices in the world, they are something very dear and close to my heart: making prosthetics available to everyone that needs them.

The $20 Jaipur Knee 
2ft Prosthetics - $25 Prosthesis
2ft Prosthetics - Organizational Overview
openprosthetics.org
Prosthetic Arm Made From A Plastic Soda Bottle
The Jaipur Foot

I stand in awe of technological advances that man has made over time. A small amount of technology and a lot of innovations can go a long way toward humanity.As we all know technology can be used for evil and destruction as well. I really feel we are at a crossroads with which way we are going to take society and use technology in the future.
The paradigm of business has changed greatly over the last couple of decades. I think we can all agree that it is still changing due to the information age. It is my wish that technology and information will be freely shared amongst all people, which will in turn lead to even greater advancements.

May All The Change In Your World Be Peaceful And Productive - TyW