Artificial Arm Listens to Brain

Losing an arm typically means losing the many functions associated with that arm until now. With a technique called target muscle reinnervation the remaining nerves in the arm after amputation are connected to another muscle in the body and essentially "rerouted" for continuance of nerve-brain relations. These nerves are often placed in the chest so that the nerves and the brain can continue to communicate; the brain sends signals to the nerves causing the muscles of the chest to contract, which sends an electrical signal to the prosthetic arm for movement. The control techniques involved in moving the arm are the same for any other part of the body providing the amputee with the functions associated with an arm that is no longer there.

Mind control of prosthetics is not a new technology but scientists claim that this new method provides the patient with the ability to perform 10 different hand, wrist and elbow movements versus just being able to weakly bend the elbow or wrist. This reinnervation method allows the patient to have more control with less effort and although it sounds amazing, creators make it known that this technology is expensive and does take months for nerves to grow, a necessary part of the process. Other similar technologies include researchers working with monkeys to move a mechanical arm and a paralyzed man being able to control a cursor on a computer screen with his mind. The drive of such technologies are said to be both incidence of diabetes and military injuries making this research vital to more patients each year. Desiring to obtain functions as close to normal arm function as possible, researchers believe that reinnervation is just a step in the right direction but say that there is still plenty to accomplish with these technologies.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/11/health/research/11arm.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&ref=research

Brittany Sanchez

VTPP 435-502