#prosthetic technology

[intertwined-xx]

NOVA | Augmented Preview | Season 49 | Episode 4

An ingenious new technology allows prosthetic legs to move and feel like the real thing.

Unbelievable story!

[mobility-hdprosthetic-2024]

Advanced Below Knee Prosthetics: Enhancing Mobility and Comfort

Below Knee Prosthetics play a transformative role for individuals who have undergone below knee (trans-tibial) amputations, providing them with solutions to regain their mobility, confidence, and quality of life. With advancements in prosthetic technology, there are now highly effective options that cater to a range of needs, from daily activities to athletic pursuits.

What Are Below Knee Prosthetics?

Below knee prosthetics are artificial limbs designed to replace the portion of the leg below the knee, providing support and enhancing mobility for amputees. The prosthetic typically includes components such as the socket, pylon, foot, and suspension system. Each part of the prosthetic is designed to emulate the natural movement of a human leg while being comfortable, durable, and easy to use.

Key Benefits of Below Knee Prosthetics

Below knee prosthetics offer significant advantages that help individuals lead active, fulfilling lives. Key benefits include:

Enhanced Mobility: Modern prosthetics mimic the natural gait, enabling a smooth walking experience.

Increased Independence: Users can perform daily activities without reliance on mobility aids.

Improved Comfort: Custom-fit sockets ensure minimal discomfort, preventing skin irritation and enhancing the user experience.

Better Balance: The prosthetic leg is designed to stabilize the user, helping maintain balance and posture.

Aesthetic Appeal: Some prosthetics come with cosmetic covers, giving them a lifelike appearance that boosts confidence.

Types of Below Knee Prosthetics

Depending on an individual’s lifestyle, physical activity level, and specific needs, several types of below knee prosthetics are available:

Endoskeletal Prosthetics: These have an internal pylon (a structural rod) covered by a foam or cosmetic shell, allowing customization and adjustments. They’re popular due to their lightweight structure and realistic appearance.

Exoskeletal Prosthetics: These have a hard outer shell, making them more durable and suited for high-impact activities.

Energy-Storing Prosthetics: Designed for active individuals, these store energy during each step and release it, enabling a spring-like effect that enhances mobility.

Waterproof Prosthetics: Ideal for those who enjoy water activities or have occupations requiring exposure to water, these are designed to resist corrosion and withstand moisture.

Choosing the Right Below Knee Prosthetic

Selecting the appropriate prosthetic is crucial for ensuring comfort and effectiveness. Here’s what to consider:

Lifestyle and Activity Level: For highly active individuals, an energy-storing or sport-specific prosthetic is recommended. Lower-activity users may benefit from lighter, more basic models.

Socket Fit: Comfort largely depends on the socket fit. A well-fitted socket minimizes skin irritation and pressure points.

Suspension System: Different suspension methods, such as vacuum, pin-lock, or sleeve, keep the prosthetic securely attached. The choice depends on personal comfort and ease of use.

Material and Weight: Lightweight materials, like carbon fiber, are preferred for those seeking durability without bulk.

Tips for Adapting to a Below Knee Prosthetics

Adjusting to a Below Knee Prosthetics may take time, but with the right guidance and approach, individuals can build confidence and adapt to their new limb.

Work with a Prosthetist: A prosthetist tailors the prosthetic to fit your needs, offering adjustments and support throughout the process.

Practice Walking and Balance Exercises: Practicing walking, especially on different terrains, helps users build confidence.

Gradually Increase Activity: Start with simple movements and gradually progress to more complex activities.

Regular Follow-Ups: Routine check-ups with a prosthetist are crucial to address any discomfort and to make adjustments as needed.

The Future of Below Knee Prosthetics

With rapid advancements in technology, below knee prosthetics continue to evolve, integrating features such as microprocessors, responsive joints, and even Bluetooth connectivity to adapt to different terrains. These advancements aim to make prosthetics feel more like a natural limb, providing greater autonomy and enhancing overall well-being.

Conclusion

Below Knee Prosthetics empower individuals by restoring mobility and providing a pathway to independence. With various types and customization options, users can choose a prosthetic that best suits their lifestyle and physical needs. Embracing a below knee prosthetic is a journey of adaptation and resilience, transforming challenges into opportunities for a fuller, active life.

[mindshiftwellnesscenter]

Prosthetic Technology

Yes, advancements in prosthetic technology have enabled the development of brain-controlled prosthetic arms. These prosthetic arms use a technique called "brain-computer interface" (BCI), where electrodes are placed on the scalp to pick up electrical signals produced by the brain. These signals are then translated into commands that control the movements of the prosthetic arm. While the technology is still evolving, it holds great promise for enhancing the functionality and usability of prosthetic limbs for amputees.

[velveteenelectricalreaction]

(via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ia3P-_RHVWQ)

Augmented Future - Open Bionics × Deus Ex × Razer

Published on Jun 8, 2016

Open Bionics, Eidos-Montréal and Razer are working together to bring Deus Ex inspired augmentations to life. The three companies will partner up to help bridge the gap between fiction and reality, working together to design, 3D print, scan, power, and create affordable bionic hands. 

This “Augmented Future” initiative will combine the expertise of each company, with the ultimate goal being to make fashionable robotic prosthesis accessible to a larger audience.

For more information, visit www.augmentedfuture.com.

I’m sitting here, watching this, mouth agape in awe, brain racing with excitement at the possibilities and opportunities, and the only thing that I can think to say in response to this is:

“This is incredible. This is absolutely incredible.”

Open source, 3D printing, actual real life Cyberarm Prosthesis like Jensen’s in the game, available to the public at large. Never did I think in a million years that something like this would be available in my life time. I’m only 25, and this level of technology not only exists, but is becoming more and more broadly available to the general public.

And we’re not stopping there.

It’s only a matter of time before this sort of thing is not just exclusive to the medical community, but widely available to everyone. Widespread morphological freedom, a huge leap forward in human social interaction and self-expression, where we are not defined by our limited biology and the like, but rather able to choose what we wish to keep and what we wish to change, where we have the option to radically transform ourselves into the person we want to be, rather than settle for the hand we’ve been dealt by fate, by accident, or by genetics.

They chose the tagline for this series well

#CantKillProgress indeed.

[thatbiomedicalengineer]

Prosthetic Limb Headcanon

Introduction

Hi, friends! I know I keep talking about Seraphina and her research and prosthetic limbs, but I haven't really given you much information about it. It's been hiding in my head this whole time, many apologies. I've finally gotten the time to make this post for everyone! Everything in this post is based on my interpretation of things that I've seen. Disclaimer: I am not a biomedical engineer or a medical expert of any type, this is just based on the research that I've done. Please feel free to correct my wording or point me towards good sources so that I can keep reading about the topic. I'll split this into sections for you guys: what it looks like, and the history of the technology in the world, both under the cut.

Edited to clarify: Final Fantasy Wiki says that Shalua Rui made Barret Wallace's gun-arm, which, to me means what he had during the Original Game. I head canon Seraphina's technology to be used for the limb he has during Advent Children and on.

What The Technology Is Like

For some background, biological limbs are moved using electrical pulses from the brain. They go through the spine and then further along the nervous system, which tells the body to move the limb. Each type of movement has a different pattern of pulse, but that science is just starting to be understood. There's some groundbreaking research being started on this topic at Queen's University, however.

Seraphina and her team created an artificial nervous system capable of being integrated with the biological nervous system.

There are two parts. There is a part surgically attached to the end of the person's limb, which functions as a converter. This is where the the biological electrical impulses are turned into the electric currents that the limb can read. This part is incredibly important and is built to be waterproof and shock proof to a certain degree. It's built to last. The second part if the limb itself, which reads the electrical signals from the converter to make different parts of the limb move in certain ways. The limb is not as strong as the converter, but is still able to take a beating and is waterproof. It's made of metal.

This is not an easy technology to get, the converter is surgically attached, meaning that younger patients need to forgo the surgery until they are fully grown. This is a flaw. It's also incredibly painful to attach each nerve, which happens when the converter and the limb are joined together. Patients cannot use anesthesia because the doctors need to know whether or not the nerves have connected correctly. It also takes time for the patients to learn how to control these limbs; the usual time is at least a year and a half. Patients go through a lot of physical therapy to learn the technology.

It is worth noting that the type of prosthetic used is not an automatic for each person, all people have a different set of needs that need to be reflected in the prosthetic that they use.

The Technology on Gaia

The technology was created and approved for testing at least a couple of years before the original FFVII game. However, Shinra was being incredibly possessive of it. Seraphina dedicated her life to this technology to help her step-father, but he originally wasn't able to get it. This is also why Barret only had a gun arm in the game.

The company only allowed Shinra workers access to the technology at first. It went to SOLDIERs who had been injured in the war with Wutai, and then others who needed it within the Shinra ranks. Outside of Shinra, Wutaian soldiers could have used the technology, as well as people with diabetes. Sometimes the complications of diabetes can lead to necessary amputation, mostly of feet, according to the Mayo Clinic.

The technology was also obscenely expensive. Shinra could lower it within company, but one of the next goals that Seraphina had after developing the technology was lowering the cost of it so others had access to it. Here in the US, prosthetic legs can cost anywhere from $5,000-$50,000, arms are slightly cheaper, ranging $3,000-$30,000. Yes, those numbers are very scary. Imagine what the technology Seraphina and her team created would cost. Probably well beyond both estimates.

The fall of Shinra also brought about large scale changes to the availability of technology. With the rise of the WRO, Reeve stopped all restrictions and actively tried to help people who needed the technology get access to it. Seraphina, now director of the science department, created a team that she personally oversees working on the fine-tuning of the prosthetic limb technology.

And if you've read this far, thank you so much. You are officially one of my muse's favorite people.