English 12 Period 2
Mrs Carvalho
November 29, 2016
Prosthesis thesis
Since its conception the field of Prosthetics has gone through many changes. Many popular conceptions of prosthetics often include stationery cosmetic limbs, or common cinematic representations, like the archaic “peg leg” of the pirate “By the late 19th century, prosthetics vendors would offer peglegs as cheaper alternatives to more intricate, lifelike artificial legs.[2] Even as vendors touted advantages of more complicated prostheses over simple peglegs” or the futuristic bionic limb that is better than human limbs in every way “Cybernetics were technological replacements for organic body parts, including eyes, limbs, and in extreme cases the majority of an individual’s body.” . Prosthetics are thousands of years old, and have evolved throughout the centuries. After may advances in technology we no-longer have iron legs, but plastic and carbon fiber prosthetics, which are able to move almost the same as natural limbs and can be better at certain tasks than a natural limb. There are even internal prosthesis such as a Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator used to improve people’s life.
“ICDs are useful in preventing sudden death in patients with known, sustained ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation. Studies have shown ICDs to have a role in preventing cardiac arrest in high-risk patients who haven’t had, but are at risk for, life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias. “
“Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD).” Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD). N.p., 23 Oct. 2014. Web. 26 Nov. 2016
The first recorded prosthetic was in an ancient Indian text from around 1200 BC. Many things happened in those 3200 or so years to lead to such improvements, and more can be done to make them better than they are now. Prosthetics are quite expensive and they don’t have a long life expectancy, it can be hard for some people to pay for a prosthetic especially if they have a minimum wage job and little to no insurance.
People have thought of ways to replace limbs that have been lost since people could lose a limb and survive.“The earliest record of a prosthetic being used was Vishpala from the Rigveda in 1200 BC, Vishpala is sometimes a horse and other times is a woman who lost a leg and receives an iron leg to run a race.” Actual prosthetics have been around for thousands of years.“ The earliest physical evidence of prosthetics is a wooden toe for an Egyptian king dating between the years 950 BC and 710 BC. The oldest prosthetic leg that has been found dates back to 300 BC Rome, a leg of wood, copper, and iron.” Clearly replacing lost limbs with artificial limbs is not a new idea, but as time passes the train of thought passes from “replacing lost limbs” to “replacing limbs”. The massive change in thought has to come from something.
“This is a representation of the past, present and future of prosthetics”
The loss of a limb is a heavy hit to anyone. Back in the 400’s BC many prosthetics were for aesthetics, such as covering deformations or making someone seem whole. Later on in 300 BC people started creating more functional prosthetics as shown by a “wood, bronze and iron prosthetic found in the mid 1800’s that dated back to 300BC. People who lost limbs or unnecessary body parts such as a toe would need something to replace that part if they survived weather it’s to make them useful or to make them feel whole again. If someone lost a leg in before most jobs were sit down jobs they would normally be considered useless as they couldn’t run, walk, hunt, work on fields, or other active jobs. Some of the only jobs that could be done by amputees are skilled ones that need lots of practice or a good education. Unskilled and uneducated people needed ways to work again, so people created ways to walk again such as crutches, peg legs and artificial body parts.
After a stagnant period for prosthetics during the “dark ages as only wealthy people could afford them, becoming more for aesthetics again.” but the fire of improvement was rekindled during the renaissance as new ideas new technologies and a reinvigoration of the arts enhanced improved prosthetics. “In 1529 a Mr Ambroise Pare created prosthetics with hinges and locks so the user could adjust the prosthetic to be more comfortable for the wearer” Then in “1696 a man by the name of Peter Verduyn created a below the knee prosthetic that did not lock out the knee.” These kind of prosthetics are now known as “joint and corset’s” in modern time. In “1800 James Potts created the first socket prosthetic”. In 1945 the US started funding programs that allow veterans to receive prosthetic limbs and to research ways to improve them to make life easier on the people who fought for the country and lost limbs in the process. Later in the 1900’s prosthetics started to be made out of composites and resins instead of wood and leather making them lighter and more durable and allowed for custom fits that were more comfortable and healthier for the wearer. Then getting into the new millennia many technologies that seemed like science fiction became reality, this holds true to prosthetics as well.
In the new millennia many of the things previously thought to be science fiction have become reality. There are wrist watches that can send and receive video calls, shoes that can tie themselves, unmanned drones and many other things. This holds true for prosthetics, “in 2007 the first prosthetic limb to be controlled by one’s mind was created by Todd kuiken by using Targeted Muscle Reinnervation (TMR).”
“TMR is where through surgery the residual limb nerves are moved to other muscles which can cause electromyogram signals, which are the electrical signals muscles give off, to arise to the skin surface which in turn allows certain prosthetics to be controlled.”
Cheesborough, Jennifer E., Lauren H. Smith, Todd A. Kuiken, and Gregory A. Dumanian. “Targeted Muscle Reinnervation and Advanced Prosthetic Arms.” Seminars in Plastic Surgery. Thieme Medical Publishers, Feb. 2015. Web. 28 Nov. 2016.
This technology is still not at the point to surpass human limbs. “Around the same time the U.K developed a fully functional 5 digit hand prosthetic that the wearer can move every digit.” In 2011 a man was able to compete in the paralympics and the regular olympics and won medals in both, with his carbon fiber legs. The legs were spring like which allow the wearer to run and jump incredibly well.
“A picture of Oscar Pistorius aka the blade runner, running at the olympics”
It is truly marvelous where humans have come as a species.
Prosthetics cost quite a bit of money. The prosthesis the blade runner uses are between 15,000 and 18,000 dollars. Many people are unable to buy prosthetics as they do not have the funds to do so. The first time
“For patients without health insurance, a prosthetic arm typically costs less than $5,000 for a purely cosmetic arm, up to $10,000 for a functional prosthetic arm that ends in a split hook, and up to $20,000-$100,000 or more for an advanced myoelectric arm, controlled by muscle movements, with a functioning artificial hand.”
“How Much Does a Prosthetic Arm Cost? – CostHelper.com.” CostHelper. N.p., 2016. Web. 28 Nov. 2016.
The basic functional prosthetic is at-least 5,000 dollars, similar to the price of a cheap car, an expensive myoelectric prosthetic “
“Myoelectric” is the term for electric properties of muscles. A myoelectric-controlled prosthesis is an externally powered artificial limb that you control with the electrical signals generated naturally by your own muscles.”
“Myoelectric Prosthetics 101.” – Ottobock USA. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2016.
can be upwards of 100,000 dollars. The price would not be a problem if it were not for the fact that the usual life expectancy of a prosthetic limb is three to five years. Imagine having to buy a car every three to five years, it is a taxing ordeal. Even the more expensive prosthetics do not last very long. Prosthetics are not the most cost efficient things imaginable. My EDD group and I believe the best problem to tackle is the cost effectiveness of electric prosthetics by either making them cheaper or making them more durable.
With the length of time a prosthetic lasts it can be hard for one to keep buying prosthetics as the average life expectancy of a prosthetic limb is 3 to 5 years. This is quite a short time, especially when one thinks of how often the average American buys a car. “the average American owns a car for 10 to 12 years.” The average life expectancy of a car is over double the life expectancy of a prosthetic limb. It is even worse for growing children, they grow out of their prosthesis quickly and need a new one rather frequently.
“Children (1 to 5 years old) need new prostheses once a year, children (5 to 12 years old) need new prostheses once every 1 to 2 years, children (12 to 21 years old) need new prostheses once every 3 to 4 years.”
Coalition, Amputee. “InMotion Easy Read: Notes from the Medical Director: Limb Loss in Children: Prosthetic Issues.” InMotion Easy Read: Notes from the Medical Director: Limb Loss in Children: Prosthetic Issues. N.p., 05 Feb. 2009. Web. 26 Nov. 2016.
The atrophication of limbs can also lead to the need of a new prosthetic as the socket is too big for the limb.
My group and I plan on tackling at least the two before mentioned problems we found with prosthetics. Our attempt is to make a more cost efficient prosthetic with a longer life expectancy and a cheaper price tag. To create a usable product that is both cheap and long lasting my group will use a decision matrix to compare other devices. We will try to take what we think is the best from each device and use it to our advantage. As of now we have two patents we are thinking of using in our decision matrix. The first patent is of an Adjustable prosthetic leg. The leg is
“A lightweight, universally sized prosthetic appliance for supporting a person having a residual limb. The prosthetic limb includes a socket adapted to define a selectively adjustable sleeve for receiving and securing a residual limb therein. The adjustable sleeve includes an ischial bearing member for supporting the person’s weight. An elongated support member is adjustably and releasably secured to the socket for selectively adjusting the length of the prosthetic limb and the utility there of.”
“Lanengfeld, Christopher C., Christopher O. Evans, Stanley B. Smith, Alexander H. Muller, and John M. Kerwin. Arm Prosthetic Device. Deka Products LP, assignee. Patent US20080288088A1. 20 Nov. 2008. Print.”
The patent for this was filed in 1977. If this was recreated using more modern technologies the outcome would be astounding, especially if one were to add a few more improvements. The other pattent we looked at was for an arm prosthetic device
“A prosthetic arm apparatus comprising a plurality of segments that provide a user of the prosthetic arm apparatus with substantially the same movement capability and function as a human arm.”
This patent was filed in 2008. This patent should be useful as it shows how to motorize a prosthetic arm as well as giving the team a more modern look at prosthetics. It also could give us ideas of how to improve new prosthetics.
I believe the best way to make a cheap prosthetic is to make them mass producible and adjustable. I believe that like a crutch a prosthetic that can change in size would be the best way to solve this problem. Having a “one size fits all” prosthetic could be a very good thing. Although “one size fits all” is a little misleading as one size could not fit all. Maybe 3 or so sizes could fit most sized people. Having 3 sizes that can be manually adjusted means they can be mass produced because a model can be set then created over and over again with little cost. Prosthetics would not need to be designed specifically for a person. Parts would need to be specifically designed but the main bulk of a prosthesis would already be created significantly reducing the price.
“Myoelectric Prosthetics 101.” – Ottobock USA. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2016.
“Cybernetics.” Wookieepedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2016.
“Pegleg.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 13 Sept. 2016. Web. 16 Nov. 2016.
“Rigveda.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2016.
“Prosthesis.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2016.
Lanengfeld, Christopher C., Christopher O. Evans, Stanley B. Smith, Alexander H. Muller, and John M. Kerwin. Arm Prosthetic Device. Deka Products LP, assignee. Patent US20080288088A1. 20 Nov. 2008. Print.
Cottingham, Hugh V., and Joseph Scrocco. Adjustable Prosthetic Limb. Bhn, Inc., assignee. Patent US4161042 A. 07 July 1979. Print.
Coalition, Amputee. “InMotion Easy Read: Notes from the Medical Director: Limb Loss in Children: Prosthetic Issues.” InMotion Easy Read: Notes from the Medical Director: Limb Loss in Children: Prosthetic Issues. N.p., 05 Feb. 2009. Web. 26 Nov. 2016.
“How Much Does a Prosthetic Arm Cost? – CostHelper.com.” CostHelper. N.p., 2016. Web. 28 Nov. 2016.
Cheesborough, Jennifer E., Lauren H. Smith, Todd A. Kuiken, and Gregory A. Dumanian. “Targeted Muscle Reinnervation and Advanced Prosthetic Arms.” Seminars in Plastic Surgery. Thieme Medical Publishers, Feb. 2015. Web. 28 Nov. 2016.
Pacer/ICD Assessment, Resynchronization Therapy.” Pacer/ICD Assessment, Resynchronization Therapy. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Nov. 2016.
Amputee Coalition. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Nov. 2016.