Losing limbs has always been a scary thing. It happens very frequently, especially around heavy machinery and farming equipment. It can be very hard to lose an arm or a leg but know our technology has grown so that we can get a prosthetic part and still go along with our everyday lives. Nigel Ackland was one of these unfortunate people that has lost the lower part of his arm.
With today's technology Nigel has gotten a muscle powered arm. The arm can do many motions that a normal hand can do. He can go from cracking open an egg to grasping heavy things. The arm is functioned by the muscles in his arm that are connected to a small amp that can tell which muscles he is using. To close his fist he simply tightens the inner muscles of his arm and the outer muscles will open the hand. Doing both these actions together causes the hand to rotate to different angles that he wants. It comes with different functions that can determine how tight of a grip he wants his hand. This prosthetic lets him grab a beer, hold a tool and even make a handshake. He can do many things with his bionic hands that all of us can do with our normal hands.
Even prosthetic legs are become so advanced. With this bionic leg Zac Vawters climbed 103 floors which has never been done before him. His leg is completely controlled by his mind. It is linked to his hamstring which then lets him tighten his thigh and the leg pulls up allowing him to climb up stairs.
The prosthetics are coming a long way in todays technology. Before it was just pieces that looked like the limb that was lost but today they are actually functioning like the real thing. Scientists have a long way to go before each one is complete with all the motions but still knowing that they have come this far means its only a matter of time before they nail it completely.
Having this technology makes me feel a little better knowing that I could still go one with my everyday life normally, if I ever did become unfortunate enough to lose a limb. I'm sure that these pieces are pretty spendy but with healthcare and insurance i'm sure it wouldn't be to terrible. It's all just completely amazing to me!
The advancements in the last 15 years are amazing. There are prosthetics now have sensory capabilities.
ReplyDeleteThe cost of many of these new technologies is very expensive and health insurance doesn't always cover it. I hope that our veterans that have lost limbs are getting the best there is to offer in prosthetics.
I find it amazing how much prosthetics have advanced these past few years. I would have never thought you would be able to control it with you mind. I just find that simply amazing. Back in the day when you lost a limb you could barely do anything for yourself, but now you can pretty much do anything. It is truly amazing.
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