Former U.S. Marine fit for Bionic Arm

Claudia Mitchell is a former U.S. Marine who lost her arm in a motorcycle accident. What is unique about this device is that it can be controlled with thought. The neurons that innervated the arm are connected to the nerves in the chest muscles. Electrodes fixed on the device can detect impulses from the muscles in the chest and relay them to the mechanical arm. Some of the nerves in the chest muscle detect sensations. So when her chest is touched, she can feel the sensation in her hand. There have been trials with bionic arms in the past, however this newer version allows Claudia to flex and extend her elbow joint, open and close her hand, and gives her limited motion in her shoulder joint as well. She can now do common household task that she otherwise would be incapable of, such as folding laundry, washing dishes or cutting a steak.

With the war in Iraq and Afghanistan returning many injured soldiers and amputees, the demand for prosthetic devices is increasing. This in turn, provides a demand for advanced prosthetic technology. I personally support the research focused on enhancing prosthetic devices; not merely that of functionality purposes, but also designs to make prosthesis more aesthetically pleasing. Victims of war and survivors of horrible accidents should expect to see great advances in the field of orthopedic prosthesis in the near future. I would hope that prosthetic surgery will eventually be more affordable as the technology improves and becomes more common.

Here's a link to a video of her doing a CNN interview

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/508061/lady_with_bionic_arm_cnn/

reference:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/5348458.stm