By Olivia Laney 2 nd block February 15 th , 2012

By Olivia Laney 2nd block

February 15th, 2012

PROSTHETICS TODAY

The earliest evidence of prosthetics can be found in Cairo, Egypt and it dates back as far as 950-710 B.C.

Since this wooden and leather specimen, prosthetic limbs have changed very little (until recently). Most limbs designed in lab have been made of plastic or rubber and attached to the body in a sort of leather sling.

Back to the Future

The invention of anesthesia in the 1840’s allowed for surgeons to conduct much more meticulous and refined operations. This also means that the surgeon could prepare the limb for interaction with a prosthesis.

In 1812, a prosthetic arm was invented that could be controlled by the amputee’s opposite shoulder through a system of straps. Some movement was now possible!

Getting Closer…

One major challenge engineers face is the range of motion prosthetics provide. For decades, prosthetics were merely for show, but what good is a hunk of plastic if one cannot put any weight on it or use it like a completely normal limb?

Another major problem in developing prosthetics is the lack of sensation the amputee feels. How would one know when they’re touching something?

Some Road Blocks

Following World War II, many veterans demanded advancements in the field of prosthetics. So many soldiers had been wounded during the war that the demand for newer, lighter, more functional devices never ceased.

In response, the National Academy of (an American governmental agency) created the Artificial Limb program in 1945, which developed new materials, such as aluminum to build prosthetics. New surgical techniques and computer-designed methods were also introduced.

Modern Times

Drumroll Please!

Today, scientists can rewire nerves that have been left intact from the amputation to other muscles and skin. From there, electrodes can be placed on these nerves, not only allowing the amputee to feel, but allowing them the move their prosthetic simply by thought, signals from the brain.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6R5bm6qx2E&feature=relmfu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6R5bm6qx2E&feature=relmfu

http://www.technologyreview.com/Biotech/18134/ http://

science.howstuffworks.com/prosthetic-limb1.htm http://www.technologyreview.com/biomedicine/19

759/

http://www.amputee-coalition.org/inmotion/nov_dec_07/history_prosthetics.html

Works Cited