Using the Brain to Repair Motion and Sight

It is always astounding what technology can come up with next; a few years ago if someone was completely paralyzed they would never have any hope of regaining any functions, even with prosthetics of that time. That was because until recently robotic and motorized prosthetics required pressure sensors and signals to be operated by flexing different muscles such as those in the shoulder blade to operate them. But now thanks to modern technology it is possible to connect sensors directly to the brain in order to operate remote prosthetic devices. As this video [1] from ABC News shows a paralyzed woman who does not have access of her own limbs can now use and operate a prosthetic one remotely.


With further understanding of the brain and decoding its signals this technology can eventually restore functions previously thought to be unobtainable, even sight to the blind. As of February 21, 2013 the Alpha IMS device [2] a retinal implant has given sight to 9 previously blind people. This is the latest in retinal implants, instead of relying on outer cameras to capture images and light the Alpha IMS device uses electrodes implanted directly underneath the retina allowing for the brain to use its own previous connections. Currently this technology only works for patients who have lost their sight but still have function vision processing neurons, however as technology in the field continues to expand it surely will only be a matter of time before even sight can be returned to anyone who has lost it.



Sources:
[1] Robotic prosthetics become a reality, James Oaten, January 3, 2013. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-01-03/robotic-prosthetics-become-reality/4451736
[2] “This Retinal Implant Has Given Sight to Nine Blind People” Douglas Heaven, New Scientist, February 21, 2013. http://gizmodo.com/5985863/this-retinal-implant-has-given-sight-to-nine-blind-people

Personalizing Prosthetics

The disfigurations that result in the need for prosthetic limbs either from natural or outside causes, such as birth defects or accidents/injuries respectively, are often unfortunately viewed negatively by society. While prosthetics can help to return lost function to the user the unfamiliar shape and appearance can often still make the limb feel alien or unnatural. As Scott Summit explains and demonstrates in a presentation at TEDxCambridge [1] just by giving back the form of the missing limb you are able to make a prosthetic personal again, and by further adapting and designing the prosthetic to the user you truly make it an extension of them and who they are. By doing this and not trying to hide or mask the prosthetic for what it is, you are able to go from a prosthetic being viewed as a sign of ill-health or weakness into it being seen as an extension of the person using it. In the discussion Scott mentions a soccer player who had a custom prosthetic and once he had it, his team mates stopped viewing him as someone with an amputation.

Another key aspect mentioned in the above video is that advances in 3D printing allow for us to make these customizations and personal touches for much cheaper costs then what they were before. Previous forms of manufacturing could only mass produce one to a few versions of a product, however as Scott mentions in his discussion, soon the technology will allow us to take a camera and use it as a portable 3D scanner to create personalized 3D printed prosthetics from anywhere in the world for much cheaper than traditional manufacturing costs. If you wish to see videos of 3D printing in action or what it is I recommend watching this video [2] on the Youtube channel testedcom where they break down what 3D printing is, how the models are made, and even how you can get into 3D printing yourself. 

Sources:

[1] Scott Summit: Beautiful artificial limbs, Filmed November 2011, TEDxCambridge. http://www.ted.com/talks/scott_summit_beautiful_artificial_limbs.html 

[2] Introduction to 3D Printers: The Promise and Pitfalls of Desktop Manufacturing, testedcom, March 27, 2013. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTCIlO0oLP8

An Admiration of Cyborgs

Ever since I first saw the scene at the end of Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back where Luke receives a robotic hand I have been fascinated with Robotic Prosthetics; and the idea that one day you could replace lost or damaged parts of yourself with machines. Robotic Prosthetics have come a long way in a short amount of time, and the advances that they have made are astounding. 

One day I believe we will have a future similar to that of the popular sci-fi anime Ghost in the Shell. Where normal people can walk alongside people who have their entire bodies replaced with robotics, but if you placed them next to each-other there would be no noticeable difference in their appearance. As the Who Am I?  Gallery currently on display at The Science Museum in London shows us, technology allows for an astonishing 76% [1] to be replaced with Robotic Prosthetics and Bionic devices. That number will only increase and as current trends show, it probably won't be long until we can completely replace our bodies with robotics. As new innovations in Robotic Prosthetics and Bionic technologies are always being pushed and developed further. 

If you have a passion for the idea of eventually living in a science fiction world where people can walk around with robotic bodies or just think that is interesting and would like to learn more, feel free to follow this blog as I list and discuss new developments in this field. Even comment about something relevant that I haven't discussed that you would maybe like to see more about.

sources:
[1] How To Build A Bionic Man, Channel 4. Thursday 07, February 2013. http://www.channel4.com/programmes/how-to-build-a-bionic-man/episode-guide/series-1/episode-1