Bionics 4

Kevin Warwick

Artificial Limbs
An artificial limb usually replaces a
missing limb, such as an arm or leg.
The type of artificial limb used is
determined largely by the extent of
amputation of the missing extremity
each one is a little different.
Reasons include disease, accidents,
and congenital (birth) defects.

Geography
Likely reasons for an amputation

depend on location.
In USA & Europe circulatory disease,
cancer and infection are the leading
causes.
In Africa the most likely causes are
industrial, vehicular, or a war related
accidents again infection is a
problem.

This Presentation
More interested in the legs and arms
themselves
Neuroprosthetics & Enhancements
etc are mostly a separate lecture

History
Two artificial toes have been found on

Egyptian mummies these date back to

1,000BC. However it is not known if they
were actually used in life.
The first artificial leg, from archaeology, is
the Roman Capua Leg. This was found in a
tomb in Capua, Italy, and dates back to
300BC. It was made of wood and copper.
In the 15th century artificial limbs were
often made out of iron for soldiers and
sailors. However wood came to be used
much more, simply because of its weight.

Wooden Legs
Such a wooden leg

could be simply
fixed.
Or it could be
hinged at the knee
to assist walking
No hinge possible
strange gait

Developments
In the 19th century, artificial limbs became more

widespread due to the large number of amputees

from wars.
Helped by the discovery of anesthetics.
In the 20th century scientific research and commercial
possibilities opened the field further.
In recent years, a great deal of emphasis has been
placed on developing artificial limbs that look and
move more like actual human limbs.
General new technology (plastics, CAD,
manufacturing, medicine) have all improved the end
results.

Types of Prosthetic
Transtibial Prosthesis replaces a leg missing below the knee.

Such amputees can regain normal movement more readily than

those with a transfemoral amputation - retaining the knee
allows for easier movement.

Transfemoral Prostheses replaces a leg missing above the

knee. Such amputees can have a very difficult time regaining

normal movement. A transfemoral amputee must use
approximately 80% more energy to walk than a person with two
whole legs.

Transradial Prostheses replaces an arm missing below the

elbow. Two main types of prosthetics are available. Cable

operated limbs work by attaching a harness and cable around
the opposite shoulder of the damaged arm. Alternative is
myoelectric arms muscle sensing.

Transhumeral Prosthesis replaces an arm missing above the

elbow. Such amputees experience some of the same problems

Recent Developments
New plastics and other materials, such as

carbon fibre, have allowed artificial limbs to

be stronger and lighter, limiting the amount
of extra energy necessary to operate the
limb. This is especially important for
transfemoral amputees.

Other synthetic materials have allowed

artificial limbs to look much more realistic,

which is important to transradial and
transhumeral amputees because they are
more likely to have the artificial limb exposed.

Artificial Legs
Is only one leg missing?
How much of the leg is
missing?
Clearly these issues are
vital to the type of
artificial leg needed
The more to be
replaced, so the more
difficult the problem is.

C-Leg
The best known present day

artificial leg is the C-Leg produced

by Otto Block.
The user can choose between
two modes: one for walking and
one for bicycling (or any other
preprogrammed activity). The
"problem" is switching between
modes, as the wearer has to
swing the leg forward in a jerky
fashion.
The C-LEG supports up to 10
programmable modes, switchable
through a small remote control
device about the size of a car
alarm remote. Reprogramming a
mode with another special
activity requires a technician.

C-Leg
An inbuilt microprocessor

interprets the users

movements and
anticipates their actions,
allowing motion changes
in real time.
The system is actuated
through the legs
hydraulic movement.
It gives users greater
flexibility to change speed
or direction without
sacrificing stability.

C-Leg
The 10 switchable modes enable various

sports activities, including cycling, running,

natural driving and other programmable
activities that require different leg actions to
normal walking and stair climbing.
Current challenges are to stretch the units
battery life to 50 hours on one charge and to
make the leg salt-water resistant. These are
both requirements to support military use.

Heather Mills
In August 1993 Heather was hit by a
police motorcycle by Kensington
Palace, London.

Her injuries included crushed ribs and

a punctured lung. She needed a metal

plate put into her pelvis and also the
amputation of her left leg below the
knee.

Mills has a prosthetic leg, taking it off

and showing it to USA talk show host
Larry King during his interview with
her in October 2002.

Feet
With artificial legs usually the knee joint
is critical
Feet tend to be either non-existent, e.g.
Aimee Mullins, or are more for cosmetic
purposes they are not functional
Stability is important but not dexterity
Tend to be purpose directed what is
the leg for?

Artificial arms and hands

Stability and power carrying are not big

issues here
Elbow joints clearly are important
But most critical are hand movements
what will the hand have to do? how is
it to be controlled? what will it look
like?
Functionality is important but
cosmetics are also very important

Artificial Arms and Hands

Important if one or both have been lost
It is possible to do many activities with one

hand or using a residual limb(s).

Many arm amputees do not use any
prostheses or special tools. It is easy and
possible to get dressed/write/type with one
hand.
Some continue their work with a special
attachment only e.g. carpentry, car driving.
Nevertheless, having a prosthesis can be a
big help, especially for manual labour.

Prosthesis
Learning to use a prosthesis takes hard work

and practice. It is only worth the effort if it

improves a persons ability to hold and use
things.
An arm-hand prosthesis has three basic parts:
the socket, which fits over the residual limb;
the arm section, which may or may not
include an elbow joint; and the hand/tool,
which can be like a hand, a hook, or some
other shape to allow the person to hold and
use things.
Often a hook is preferred as it is extremely
functional

Body-powered
prostheses
Some prosthetics clinics make available

body-powered arm prostheses.

These have straps or cables that attach to
other parts of the body, so that by moving
a shoulder, the person can make the hand
close or bend the elbow of the prosthesis.
Body-powered prostheses often have
metal hooks instead of fingers. The hooks
are better than artificial fingers for hard
work and can pick up smaller things.

Electric-powered
prostheses
Electrical prostheses are available in some

countries, but they are relatively expensive.

Perhaps not available where they are
needed - most (countries at war/strife).
Muscles in the arm operate electric motors,
which close and open the hand.
Electrical prostheses look more like real
arms, but they are not as strong and they
break more easily.

Cosmetic prostheses
Cosmetic arms look like real arms but the

hands either do not move at all or can be

pulled (by another hand) into a fixed position.
They can help a little (for example, the
cosmetic arm can hold down a paper while
the other hand writes on it), but the real
purpose of a cosmetic arm is to look natural.
Very useful for someone in the public eye.
Useful if only one hand has been lost.

Krukenberg surgery
Some people missing both hands choose to

have surgery, called the Krukenberg surgery.

This separates the two bones of the forearm
to make a new kind of hand.
The bones can be used like two fingers, and
because the skin and bones are real, the
person can feel what they are doing.
This greatly benefits amputees who are
blind.
It is still possible to wear a prosthesis over
the residual limb even after the surgery.

The i-LIMB Hand

From Touch Bionics
http://www.touchbionics.com/

The i-LIMB Hand

The i-LIMB Hand is controlled by a system that uses

a two-input myoelectric (muscle signal) to open and

close the hands fingers.. This signal is picked up by
electrodes that sit on the surface of the skin. Existing
users of basic myoelectric prosthetic hands are able
to adapt to the system and can master the devices
functionality within minutes.

Bionic Arm
In 2001 Jesse Sullivan lost

both his arms when he was

electrocuted.
He has received an artificial
arm/hand controlled from his
nervous system.
The nerves that used to go to
the arm were moved onto
chest muscles. The nerves
grew into the chest muscles,
so when Jesse thinks "close
hand," a portion of his chest
muscle contracts and
electrodes that detect this
muscle activity tell the
computerized arm to close the
hand. Thus, Jesse thinks "close
hand" and his artificial hand
closes.
Work of Todd Kuiken.

Claudia Mitchell
Lost her left arm

in a motorcycle
accident.
In 2007 became
the 4th person to
have this type of
procedure
Rehab Institute
of Chicago

Next Lecture
Deep Brain Stimulation