Controlling a Bionic Leg with Thoughts

Zac Vawter lost his leg below his knee after a motorcycle accident a few years ago, and now he is the first amputee with a thought controlled bionic leg. Our skeletal muscle is controlled by the neurological signals sent from our brain, through the spinal cord to the nerves in the muscles. When an amputation occurs signals meant for those muscles will still be sent but will never make it to the muscles. For Vawter's prosthetic leg they first had to perform a surgery to redirect the nerve signals meant for his lower leg to his hamstring. They used a computer to translate those signals so that when the bionic leg is sent those signals through electrodes on his leg it knows what actions to perform. Vawter is able to walk up ramps and stairs, transition between these without stopping and use his thoughts to reposition the leg while sitting down.

I find this advancement in prosthesis truly amazing! Being able to use your thoughts to be able to move similarly to before the amputations? That is awesome! The researchers working on this project were funded from the US Army and with the goal of providing this technology to the servicemen and women. The future of prosthetic legs is looking bright.

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/09/26/new-prosthetic-man-controls-bionic-leg-thoughts/