Engineering Sensation in Artificial Limbs

Engineering Sensation in Artificial Limbs

Kroeker, Kirk L. "Engineering Sensation in Artificial Limbs." Communications of the ACM54.4 (2011): 16-18. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 14 Sept. 2011.

            I chose the article “Engineering Sensation in Artificial Limbs”  because after reading in Chapter 9 on sensation I found  it very interesting that it would be possible to have sensation in limbs that are artificial. The researchers in this study were trying to make prosthetic limbs useful for more than just movement; they aimed to find a way for these artificial limbs to provide sensory feedback to their users. This study has been made possible by dramatic advancements in science, electronics, and government funding. The prosthetic leg is more adaptable to this idea of sensory reception where as the hand prosthetic is a more complex matter. In 2007, the i-Limb was introduces as the only prosthetic hands that had individually powered digits or fingers.  Many government agencies help to provide funding and support for advancements in this field of study. The U.S. Defense Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is looking to find a way for prosthetic limbs to go into the nervous system in hopes of creating a more natural sense of control and sensory reception and feedback. Their first contribution was the “Luke Arm” one of the first strap on prosthetic arms. Their second contribution was in Revolutionizing Prosthetics to make them more useful and like functioning healthy limbs. Their current project is examining brain-computer interfaces but this is still young in research. Their main goal in Revolutionizing Prosthetics was to make them more useful for people with all types of injuries resulting in amputation. Many things are involved in making these prosthetics successful. Sebelius introduced, SmartHand project that aimed to produce a normally functioning prosthetic hand. He stressed the areas of the brain involved with producing the sensation of missing a hand. He and his team continue to work toward the goal of having sensory feedback control the prosthetic. Money is another issue involved with these high-tech prosthetics. They hope to further the notion that a prosthetic is not a replacement for a lost limb but an enhancement using technology to better a healthy limb.  There is much advancement in this field of study that leads to better the use of prosthetic limbs.

http://kroeker.net/published/engineering-sensation-in-artificial-limbs.htm