Valerie Fortin BME 181 Spring 2013 Controlling Prosthetic Devices

A Brief History Prosthetics date back to as early as 1000 BC For much of history, prosthetics remained largely useless, with no or few moving parts Around the 1500s, prosthetics began to be able to assist in daily activities Ambroise Paré contributed significant advances to functionality of artificial limbs A 1941 factory creating prosthetic limbs

Early Functionality Functional prosthetics (beyond an aesthetic replacement) began being made around the 1500s  Goetz von Berlichingen created for himself a prosthetic arm which he could control with latches and springs  Ambroise Paré improved amputation techniques and created several prosthetics Kneeling leg and foot Alternate materials

The 1900s The American Orthotic & Prosthetic Association was founded during WW1 Composites, plastics, and aluminum replaced iron and wood Microprocessors and computer chips allow for automatic and preprogrammed movement Silicone coverings made prosthetics more realistic-looking

Limitations Current mid-range prosthetics, while being able to perform simple tasks, lack delicacy and dexterity Patients have to deal with controllers and limited pre- programmed functions Current prosthetics do not provide feedback and as such are of limited use

The Future of Prosthetic Control Sensors placed around the head can read brain waves  Older models were expensive, uncomfortable, and cumbersome  Newer models are cheaper, require less preparation, and allow more freedom of movement The old, wired hair- net system, costing thousands of dollars The new, wireless EEG system (Emotiv) which costs only a few hundred dollars

The Future of Prosthetic Control (cont.) The wearer then trains a program by assigning certain thoughts to desired commands  Similar to how speech recognition programs are trained  For example, a man visualized pulling an object towards himself while his brain waves were recorded  Then, whenever he would visualize pulling an object, the program would simulate the object moving toward him A prosthetic arm is being installed later this year which will hopefully provide sensory feedback and receive controls from the patient's brain  Electrodes attach the device to the nerves in the patient's arm

Applications Aside from moving prosthetics, this electroencephalography (EEG) can be used in  Virtual reality  Smart homes  Robotics  Controlling wheelchairs with facial expressions The Emotiv system

Benefit to Society Providing functional prosthetics to those who have lost limbs would  Allow patients to return to work, reducing unemployment and improving productivity  Reduce the need for rehabilitation and counceling  Reduce patient pain and dependence, lowering medical costs  Lower the chance of infection leading to further amputation

Works Cited Amputee Coalition of America. N.p.: Amputee Coalition of America, n.d. Hanger Inc. Amputee Coalition. Web. 28 Feb Connor, Steve. "A Sensational Breakthrough: The First Bionic Hand That Can Feel." The Independent. Independent Digital News and Media, 17 Feb Web. 29 Feb feel html> How Products Are Made : Artificial Limb. Le, Tan. (2010, July). Tan Le: A headset that reads your brainwaves [Video file]. Retrieved from Longmore, Paul K. “Artificial Parts, Practical Lives : Modern Histories of Prosthetics (review). Project Muse.. Norton, Kim M. "A Brief History of Prosthetics." InMotion. Amputee Coalition, 2 May Web. Jan.-Feb Peck, Morgan. “Prosthetics of the Future: Driven by Thoughts, Powered by Bodily Fluids.” Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. ""The Iron Hand of the Goetz Von Berlichingen." "The Iron Hand of the Goetz Von Berlichingen. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Feb