Comments on: Prosthetics go high tech

Bert Harman, CEO of Otto Bock Americas, talks about the current state of bionics--and getting nerves to talk to artificial limbs.

Exciting News

I have been following the C-Leg for a couple of years now and am excited to see it mentioned here. My son is high-level amputee (hemi-pelvectomy) and I would be very interested in hearing state of the art news about advances in prosthetics - particularly in the myelectric and bone implantation areas - as these relate more closely to my sons amputation.

[Fray9]

Sadly

Sadly because prosthetics is such a small industry a lot of potential research areas have to be neglected.

Currently there is synthetic muscle that could afford a prosthetic limb more natural and a fuller range of movement (though they're not very strong yet), as well as power systems that can create electricity from sugar compounds like the glucose in the human bloodstream. Then theres the synthetic skin that was developed with dozens of tactile sensors per square inch that is still sitting on a shelf from 5 years ago. Also recently theres been breakthroughs in integrating systems with actual nerves in the motor center of the brain. Already there have been experiments where monkeys could actually feed themselves banannas with only a robotic arm controlled by thought.

But these areas of research cant even be considered yet in the prosthetics world and are only marginally being looked into in the world of robotics mainly because of lack of funding.

Its a bit of a catch-22 unfortunately. They cant afford cutting edge research because they dont make enough money off prosthetics sales to afford it. Out of a genuine desire to help people they raise the prices of the devices to fund research but the higher prices only results in reduced sales because the amputees cant afford it either.

If you really want to help this realm of research, do fund raisers and petition the government and companies to sponsor this research field which is struggling far behind where they could be today.

Guinea Pig?

My son was lost his right leg above the knee on June 27th as a result of a shark attack in Florida. I read with interest your article and hopeful that Craig will benefit from the new technology that is being developed. The article stated that it is difficult to find amputees to test the new products on. I may be speaking out of turn but I would think that Craig would love to test market any new technology.

[jaytmoon]

Prosthetics go high tech

This is wonderfull technology. Now if it could just be made to look more like natural skin instead of a oversized turtleneck!

[legs42]

I am located in West Sacramento,I am a bi-lateral amputee [both legs above the knee] I would be happy to assist any research program,I now have two c-legs[6 months].I have problems putting them on.my thighs have gotten larger since the last fitting.Please free to contact me if need be west sacto located in calif thank you William Schwab