Robotics the new Prosthetics

In this episode of Diagnosis Health Mr Rowan English director of National Centre for Prosthetics and Orthotics discusses the latest advances in prosthetics. Are robotics the new prosthetics? What is the future in this area of rapidly advancing technology? A robotic arm without the prostetic is used to display the latest electronic advances.

Prosthetic Robotics

Welcome to Prosthetic Robotics. With increased regularity, humans are merging with our own technology. In order for a robotic prosthetic limb to work, it must have several components to integrate it into the body’s function. Biosensors detect signals from the user’s nervous or muscular systems. It then relays this information to a controller located inside the device, and processes feedback from the limb and actuator (e.g., position, force) and sends it to the controller. Mechanical sensors process aspects affecting the device (e.g., limb position, applied force, load) and relay this information to the biosensor or controller.

The controller is connected to the user’s nerve and muscular systems and the device itself. It sends intention commands from the user to the actuators of the device, and interprets feedback from the mechanical and biosensors to the user.

Within science fiction, and, more recently, within the scientific community, there has been consideration given to using advanced prostheses to replace healthy body parts with artificial mechanisms and systems to improve function. The morality and desirability of such technologies are being debated. Body parts such as legs, arms, hands, feet, and others can be replaced.

In early 2008, Oscar Pistorius (see picture) was briefly ruled ineligible to compete in the 2008 Summer Olympics because his prosthetic limbs were said to give him an unfair advantage over runners who had ankles. One researcher found that his limbs used twenty-five percent less energy than those of an able-bodied runner moving at the same speed. This ruling was overturned on appeal, with the appellate court stating that the overall set of advantages and disadvantages of Pistorius’ limbs had not been considered. Pistorius did not qualify for the South African team for the Olympics, but went on to sweep the 2008 Summer Paralympics, and has been ruled eligible to qualify for any future Olympics. Thank you for visiting and supporting Prosthetic Robotics.