We've come a long way in bionics and prosthesis.
Pictured above is 9 year old Josh Cathcart, a boy who was born without his right arm, and he is currently the youngest person in the world that has a bionic arm. He was fitted with the i-limb by Touch Bionics . It's strength of grip can be increased or decreased, which is helpful in everyday tasks, like tying your shoelaces, or picking up your toothbrush. Josh said now he can make himself a bagel, build with Legos, and pull his own trousers up. The i-Limb is said to look and move like a normal hand, and it can be controlled with their mobile app, named my i-limb. Here are just a few more revolutionary bionics
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Bionic Eye
People who suffer from the rare disease of RP (Retinitis Pigmentosa) have damaged cells in their retina, and they can't see well, or at all, in low light, and they have lost their central and peripheral vision. The Argus II Retinal Prosthesis replenishes vision in the wearer of the bionic eye. It has 3 major parts, glasses that contain a camera, a video processor, and an artificial retina that is implanted into the eye during a four hour procedure.
The patient wears glasses which captures images of the surrounding area. The images are sent as electrical messages that the video processor processes. The message is wirelessly sent to the artificial retina implanted in the eye, were the brain can perceive the image. The Argus II is approved by the FDA, yet the cost is quite extreme, 150,000 for the device without the additional fees of the surgery and the training to use it. |
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Hand That Can Feel
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There have been several advancements in hands with different grips and movements, but very few have been able to create an artificial hand that can feel. The team at Case Western Reserve University had received a grant for $4.4 million to create a hand that can actually feel. Igor Spetic, a 49 year old man who lost his right arm in an industrial accident, had been testing the new hand in a research lab, but later was able to take it home with him. Although not fully able to regain the sense of touch throughout his right arm, Spetic is able to feel in his first three fingers.
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