...First off, I’d like to define prosthetics; some individuals may see prosthetics as simply a replacement for a limb, but the definition is slightly more complicated than that. “A Prosthesis can be any device designed to replace part of the body or improve the functionality of a body part; not just limbs, prosthetics include, but are not limited to; eyes, arms, legs, hands, joints, toes, and facial prosthetics.” (Disabled world) I personally have a fascination with prosthetics for a few reasons, first of all; when I was a little kid I grew in spurts; my legs, neck, back, and arms were in incredible pain. I would grow six to eight inches about every three years. That might seem normal, but when I grew I would only grow two or three months out of those three years. I would have given anything to stop the pain and trade for prosthetics. Some days I wouldn’t even want to get out of bed. I hurt all over. Another reason is that my family has a military background and I feel a calling for military service, but I am unsure of joining the service, this is an indirect way to be involved with military service people in need of services. The last major reason is that prosthetics are super cool, but I know I can do something more. I was meant to enable people to reach their fullest potential; I feel it’s my destiny. Within this paper I am going to discuss the beginning stages of prosthetics to current prosthetic innovations. I have an affinity for two prosthetics organizations; two of...
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...[Teacher’s Name] By [Report Title] [Report Title] Motivation The applications for 3D Printing in Healthcare are immense. One of the most obvious is its use in printing prosthetics, which face a high rejection rate due to improper fit. Traditional prosthetic hands cost upwards of $50,000, and many insurance companies refuse to pick up the bill for children, who end up outgrowing them within only a couple years. It’s just not practical from a financial standpoint to spend $50,000 for a hand that a child may get very minimal use out of. Using open source 3D printable design files, anyone with a 3D printer can print out a custom sized prosthetic hand in a matter of hours. The price tag? Between $15-$50. That’s right, less than 1/10,000 of the price of traditional prosthesis. There are literally thousands upon thousands of children with severe upper limb disabilities from all over the world. The ability to create extremely affordable prosthetic hands means there is tremendous potential for all of these children and even adults to benefit from this Prosthetics Definition In medicine, a prosthesis, (from Ancient Greek prósthesis, "addition, application, attachment")[1] is an artificial device that replaces a missing body part, which may be lost through trauma, disease, or congenital conditions. Prosthetic amputee rehabilitation is primarily coordinated by a prosthetist and an inter-disciplinary team of health care professionals including surgeons, physical therapists, and occupational...
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...the coefficient of friction of a surface. I loved that every concept seemed to build on the one before it, and how they all helped me understand the world in a way I never had before. Whenever I think about my future, what I want to study, and how I want to make a living, I always think of engineering- a career that would allow me to develop this fascination with the way the world works and to apply my knowledge to a project that could help improve peoples' lives. I want to go into this field to develop technology that could help cure disease or improve the quality of life of those with serious medical conditions. The concepts of Physics play a crucial part in the everyday work of Biomedical Engineers, specifically in the invention of prosthetic limbs, artificial organs, and improved hearing aids. "The first artificial limbs were stiff and did not have joints that bent like real arms, hands, or legs" (Woods 40). The invention of the artificial limbs was a major milestone in the medical world. Artificial limbs work so effectively and look so convincing; people might not even notice someone wearing one. Prosthesis is a device used to replace a lost limb. In addition to this, prosthesis can result in cosmetic improvements for the patient and build self-confidence. After years of research, science and technology have combined to make...
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...Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION Bionics (also known as biomimetics, biognosis, biomimicry, or bionical creativity engineering) is the application of biological methods and systems found in nature to the study and design of engineering systems and modern technology. The word "bionic" was coined by Jack E. Steele in 1958, possibly originating from the Greek word "βίον", pronounced "bion", meaning "unit of life" and the suffix -ic, meaning "like" or "in the manner of", hence "like life". Some explain the word as being formed from "biology" + "electronics". We are entering a new era of technology inspired by lifestyle and healthcare. The human body is a significant application area for technology and, under the research theme of bionics, we are applying the techniques and understanding of engineering to applications which will improve human health. Our research group is a multi-disciplinary team of engineers, clinicians and biochemists, interfacing engineering technologies to biological systems to improve chronic disease management. The team is developing biomedical platforms based on established techniques and leveraging on semiconductor technology to produce a new breed of medical devices. Such examples include silicon β-cells in a bionic pancreas for diabetics, ultra low power solid-state bio/chemical sensors for continuous monitoring, advanced microfluidics for lab-on-chip technologies, neural monitoring and stimulation to enable future diagnostic/monitoring tools, in addition...
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...I aim to secure a career as a Prosthetist. Obtaining certification to create artificial limbs for patients requires that I earn a masters degree in orthotics and prosthetics. The curriculum must be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs. Ideally, I would then enlist in a one year residency certified by the National Commission on Orthotic and Prosthetic Education. If I am to achieve my goal, I must finally be approved by the American Board of Certification. While attending Portland Community College I intend to start my mission by applying to the Medical Laboratory Program. This year, my ambition is to obtain an internship in Portland preferably at the Oregon Health and Science University. I have...
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...ROBOTIC PROSTHETICS Identifying a problem : The effect of bionic robotic on the future of humanity. Stating a claim: In a future bionic world the disabled will be those without any prosthetics. At what point human will become a cyborg and what are the risks of that for human being Human being is a special species not because it could speak but because of it abitlity of thinking seeking improvements Human enhancement is becoming more and more prominent otherwise are we heading to a bionic society an if so what are the two sides of such Cure illness should be the goal of medical evolution but there is a new tendency that is there to enhance normality. The ongoing evolution occurring in prosthetics and bionic devices is just amazing What might our descendants look like could be totally different from the known human image we’ve had till today eyer has become something of a poster boy for "transhumanism". Encompassing everything from robotic limbs to memory-enhancing neural implants to gene therapies that slow ageing, transhumanism (or posthumanism) concerns the technologies and drugs that are rapidly altering the limits of human performance, as well as notions about what we might look like in future organ transplants to replace malfunctioning livers and kidneys, or vaccines to boost the immune system, command wide social acceptance, At the moment, bionic hands are poor substitutes for the real thing – they can grasp and manipulate objects, but cannot feel. But what...
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...technology or better known as AT is any item, piece of equipment, software or product system that is used to increase, maintain or improve the functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities.” (ATIA) Assistive technology can be as simple as a motorized chair or complex as computers that help people communicate. Some hardware would include a crutch or a prosthetic limbs to help them walk or perform basic functions such as walking. In some cases these people need to remodel their whole house to compensate for their needs. Some other hardware could be switches or special keyboards. Companies or organizations that use or help promote assistive technology would be any hospital, “Ablenet which is a worldwide organization that helps kids and adults with disabilities to live fulfilling lives.”(Ablenetinc) Also most importantly the Wounded Warrior Project is the top organization and promoter that help the public be aware of the soldiers who return home. One of the impacts would be the advancement in prosthetics. Prosthetics now on the lower limbs have joints that imitate the motion of our knee or ankle. But prosthetics of the hands or arms can never get that feeling of our own hands such as grasping or lifting things. In twenty years or so these can actually go robotic so you can be able to use your fingers just like they used to as if the incident never happened. Not only just the upper extremities also the lower extremities as well. Give the patient the use of their toes so...
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...There are several areas that need to be explored when taking into consideration the economics of bionic human engineering because there are multiple parties involved in these considerations that include, the scientists, the patients, the doctors, the investors and the insurance companies. The culmination of these entities are what drive the research to happen in the first place based on the supply and demand strategies that the business environment drives. The interest in this technology for the scientist can stem from several different interests like personal interest in helping others, expanding technology, producing new ideas, and mainly an income source that will provide profitability for themselves and the companies that they work under. This profit margin on these types of technologies is what drives large scale companies to invest time and money into researching bionic engineering for human use. The risk of developing this type of technology is huge based on the amount of money needed to invest initially while still maintaining continuous investments throughout the life of the project itself. The benefits that all of these companies strive to obtain becomes endless once they have a working prototype that they can present to other investors. Most of these companies decide to produce the products themselves once they have perfected it, but there is a small amount that will sell the results to a company that is willing to then take on the responsibility of manufacturing the...
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...I qualify as a service-disabled veteran-owned business as the Department of Veteran Affairs has determined that I have a service-connected disability after my six years of service, and I own over 51% of my business (SBA, 2013). My business produces prosthetic limbs for amputees. The prosthetic limbs are made specifically to fit the veteran. The recent Iraq and Afghanistan wars have left many service members in need of prostheses. Additionally, the aging veteran population is also in need of prostheses due to diabetes and other long-term diseases. Federal Government Procurement Opportunity The Department of Veteranss Affairs develops medical contracts to supply prosthetics to veterans. The Department of Veterans Affairs has contracts with various companies, such as Morfey Limbs and Braces, to provide prosthetic limbs. Many of these companies are large and are not certified with the Small Business Administration, but the Department of Veteran Affairs is charged, nationally, with having 10% of their contracts be with service-disabled veteran-owned businesses (Fiscal Year, 2013). My business can help the Department of Veterans Affairs meet their goal of 10%. The Department of Veterans Affairs contract for prosthetic limb with vendors at the Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) and their acquisition centers. My business is located in VISN 12 and their Great Lakes Acquisition Center area (GLAC) (VISN 12, 2013). More specifically, my business is located in Chicago...
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...I will first start out with explaining kinesthesis which is the sensation of movement or strain on joints or muscle others otherwise known as muscle senses like spidy senses like in spider man. Without having kinesthesis we would not know where any of our body parts would be as in if you put your hand behind your back and with it you know that your hand is behind your back. Without kinesthesis we would not know that your hand was there. Another example is that your muscle would be really uncoordinated without it. So if you tried running a marathon without kinesthesis you would run into everyone because you would be all over the place. because you would not really know where your limbs would be. The next thing i will be going over is vestibular...
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...Hip arthroplasty is the replacement of the hip joint with a prosthesis, and is one of the most common reconstructive operations (Huo et al 2008). Hip arthroplasty may be performed when irreversible damage has occurred to the joint; this damage often causes pain, dysfunction and reduced quality of life. The pre-operative nursing considerations begin with patient education. This should begin at the time the decision is made to have the surgical procedure performed. It is important that the patient understand the preoperative requirements, the surgical procedure, postoperative care and the necessary home/activity modification. The patient should be instructed in self-preparation, including mental and emotion readiness and having a positive attitude about the surgical outcome. There is a great deal of evidence that a patient’s psychological state before the surgery impacts on their recovery afterwards. Studies have shown that patients who report lower levels of general or mental health before surgery have worse physical health outcomes, such as pain levels, after surgery (Long et al, 2005). Like all surgeries, the patient will be assed for their ability to tolerate the procedure and anesthesia. Of particular concern is their cardiovascular and respiratory status, and the presence of any comorbidities. The patient should also be evaluated for the presence of any infection, as it could spread to the hip prosthesis. The teaching of postoperative exercise before surgery allows the...
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...Research Paper 1: Paradigm Shift Argus II Retinal Prosthesis System is created by Second Sight design for people that are suffering from blindness. It starts with an epiretinal prosthesis implant which is an implant placed on top of the retina. Also attach is an antenna, electronics case, and an electrode array. Those parts are than connected to glasses, cable, and video processing unit. How it works is a small camera in the glasses capture an image than is processed by VPU that is attached to the belt. It than sends the instruction back through the cable to the glasses. They are than wirelessly transmitted to the antenna in the implant. Which go to the electrode array that creates a small pulse of electricity. These pulses stimulate functioning cells bypassing the damage photoreceptor. They then send visual information through the optical nerve to the brain. The patient is than able to see pattern of light. One impact is the ability to see anything as a person with blindness. They being able to see an image that is not just darkness. To see a world in not just one color but in a variety of colors. Second to be able to see motion in front of them. Moving object would be able to be seen. To see what the things making sound are and what are they. Third impact is what it would do to their self-confidence. It would boost it immensely for they would not have to rely on another being to do something. To be able to walk outside and not have to rely on a walking stick, a person...
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...with no leg. How about no arm? This would be life without prosthetics for amputees, soldiers, or disease survivors. Prosthetics have made the quality of life so much higher for an innumerable amount of people. Prosthetics come in different varieties such as arms and legs. Some people would never have as normal of a life experience if there were no prosthetics. Prosthetics have definitely raised the quality of life, and made people’s lives unthinkably easier! They have had such an impact and given so much hope to people that may have never have been able to do their favorite things without them. In the next few minutes I will be talking about how prosthetics have affected the world, what the world would be like without this invention,...
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...As the third most popular sport in the world, there is a surprising lack of information about prosthetics that could be used to play field hockey. In all likelihood this stems from the fact that there is no field hockey (in a modified form or otherwise) in the Paralympic games (a number of countries are working on developing “Parahockey,” but this program seems to be mostly directed towards people with intellectual disabilities rather than physical ones), and additionally from it’s reputation in the United States as being sport for only women (who seem to have fewer athletic prosthetics built for them on the whole). While lower leg amputees could easily use a prosthetic meant for other field sports like soccer or lacrosse, looking into prostheses for arm amputees present a set of much more interesting dilemmas....
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...Infective Endocarditis? Prosthetic heart valves are, undoubtedly, one of the most profound innovations to be introduced into the medical community. In 1961 the Starr-Edwards ball and cage mitral valve became the first commercially available mechanical heart valve. In 1969, the Bjork-Shiley tilting disk valve emerged, which was then followed by the St. Jude Medical bi-leaflet valve in 1977. In addition to the creation of mechanical valves, bioprosthetic valves were also being developed; and in1968 the Hancock and Carpentier-Edwards porcine mitral valve became a popular alternative to the mechanical valve (Wheatley and Will, 2005, p.1). Over the...
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