Amputees Look Forward to Advancements in Prosthetics
June 28, 2001
Due to new advancements in prosthetics, amputees can live a more active and enjoyable life. Advancements in computing, electronics and material engineering have all opened the door to prosthetics progress. Researchers are excited, as the ability to fuse smarter electronic parts with engineered human tissue is becoming reality.
Newer prosthetics made from plastics add strength and comfort to sockets of amputees. In addition, researchers are using silicone liners to form suction seals that hold prosthetics in place without the use of straps or belts. Some clinics have advanced technology that allows the use of lasers to scan amputated limbs. This enables doctors to generate a three-dimensional image so that a mold or socket can be fabricated more effectively.
One company has created computerized limbs known as "C-legs." C-legs store sensors in the ankle and knee that relay force and position information to a computer. A processor then hydraulically adjusts the bending of the knee. Other research companies have experimented with sensor-carrying prosthetic limbs that send pressure directly to the amputee's skin.
All these innovations are encouraging for amputees. However, many amputees demand more, including prosthetics that can be attached directly to the skeleton. Researchers are attempting to meet this demand by inserting titanium anchors into holes drilled into bone; the bone then grows around the titanium, holding it firm. Several amputees have successfully undergone this exciting procedure.
-- Article Courtesy of InjuryBoard.com
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