Prosthetics

Definition of Prosthetic “a device, either external or implanted, that substitutes for or supplements a missing or defective part of the body”* *Source: www.dictionary.com

Approaches for Tissue Substitutes Autografting Allografting Tissue Engineering Man-made materials and devices

Autografting Use tissue from patient Transplant from one location to another Autologous grafts are not rejected in transplant Examples? Coronary bypass (vein grafts removed from leg, then transplanted to the heart to aid blood flow around blocked coronary arteries) Spinal fusion (bone graft from patient’s hip is used to stabilize a segment of the patient spine) Problems? High cost Pain, infection and blood loss at harvest site

Allografting Use tissue from donor Transplant to patient Examples? Heart Liver Kidney Lungs Problems? Donor shortages: in 1988 there were over 20,000 organ transplants in the U.S., but more than 4,500 patients died while waiting for suitable donor organs Rejection

Tissue Engineering Cells + Scaffold + Chemical Cocktail = New Organ (maybe) Cells attach to scaffold Add “growth factors” Organize into normal, healthy tissue Scaffold degrades over time after being implanted into the patient

Tissue Engineering Examples

Approaches for Tissue Substitutes Autografting Allografting Tissue Culture Man-made materials and devices

Man-made materials and devices Devices and materials created to replicate functions performed by biological systems Examples? Artificial Valve Prosthetic hip Problems? Fatigue Fracture Toxicity Inflammation Wear Failure to function physiologically

Taking it to the classroom … Ideas for teaching middle or high school students about prosthetic device design A little help from Hollywood as a “hook”

Real-World Examples/Ethical Concerns Bionic Arm Video: http://video.msn.com/?mkt=en-us&brand=msnbc&tab=m5&rf=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032118/&fg=&from=00&vid=439c2e99-7cc3-4ae7-be27-4164fb6954ce&playlist=videoByTag:mk:us:vs:0:tag:Source_MSNBC%20Tech%20Watch:ns:MSNVideo_Top_Cat:ps:10:sd:-1:ind:1:ff:8A NY Times Article/Video: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/02/sports/olympics/02cheetah.html?_r=1&sq=prosthetic%20limb&st=cse&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&scp=9&adxnnlx=1220817613-MK8SM2PXqWibq7d/X46xoQ

Career Connection http://www.hanger.com/ncp/

Plaster Casting

Prostethic Limb Design Challenge

Real-World Examples

Activity Resources Next Week: Plaster Casting Activity: (Can we make some handouts to link to here? – ALAN, HELP PLEASE????) Prosthetic Limb Design Challenge: (Will link to Jeff Iwanicki’s files – I have these) Next Week: Hydraulic Arm Activity: http://www.teachengineering.com/view_activity.php?url=http://www.teachengineering.com/collection/wpi_/activities/wpi_hydraulic_arm/hydraulic_joy.xml Ethics of Robitics: Ethics of Robotics.pdf