Off Course-On Target

Prosthetics are a great source of learning for us all

You may have read some of my previous postings on prosthetics and how they are being dramatically affected by advancements in 3D scanning and printing.  But there is so much more benefits that prosthetics are providing for many other advancements and in particular the ability to control them directly with the brain, as outlined in the article below.

Oh, and when it comes to prosthetics I’ve noticed that many assume that this only applies to military personnel and casualties of the atrocities of war, but these are actually a small minority of the need and use of prosthetics and other areas such as accidents and birth defects account for many more.  Whatever the cause the future of prosthetics is looking brighter than ever and how great is it that these advancements can not only bring such transformative change to those in need but can also provide additional benefits for the rest of us as well. 

This whole area of enabling direct connections between the brain and external devices from prosthetics to eyes to computer interfaces is going through some remarkable advancements and I’m convinced they will be the source of many spin off advantages for an even wider array of applications.  As the article outlines, there is still some major challenges to overcome but this initiative and funding by DARPA focused on finding solutions is promising.  Prosthetics and brain control are definitely worth watching for more glimpses of the premature arrival of the future and answers to my ongoing quest to have us all change our assumptions and to be planning and wondering around the question of “What if the impossible isn’t?”

DARPA aims to control prosthetic limbs with brain implants

By Andrew Nusca | Mar 10, 2010 | 1 Comment

• As the use of prosthetic limbs increases in military veterans, the Pentagon is investigating prostheses that are more durable, reliable and directly controlled using brain implants.

DARPA, the military’s research arm, said it will launch the next phase of its decade-old Revolutionizing Prostheticsprogram, which had an original goal to create a fully-functioning, neurally-controlled human limb within five years.

Though the agency has made considerable progress — human trials of the DEKA Arm are underway, and a neurally-controlled arm is under development at Johns Hopkins University — it hasn’t yet achieved its goal.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Mind-controlled prosthetics without brain surgery (newscientist.com)
• The artificial hand that can 'feel' (cnn.com)
• Prosthetic, robotic 'Smart Hand' has feelings, too (engadget.com)

Triggerfish Monitors Your Eyes | h+ Magazine WITII

If you haven't been following along with all the advances in contact lenses, you are missing out. Efficiency is a top priority in our modern lives and doctors and patients are no exception, particularly when it comes to diagnosing and treating illness. When Grandma, Grandpa, or Billy the kid down the street has glaucoma, they want to have their vision treated as quickly and accurately as possible. And if all this can be packaged with a hint of coolness, that wouldn‘t hurt.

SENSIMED has found a way to make glaucoma treatment and monitoring quicker, better, and most importantly, more accurate. The Triggerfish allows ophthalmologists to do something that was previously cumbersome or impossible. Patients with glaucoma wear the slightly futuristic Triggerfish contraption which monitors the eye without hindering eyesight. It transmits the data to a recorder and then to the doctor‘s computer, allowing the doctor to see exactly what went on with the patient‘s eye throughout the day. With this constant monitoring, the doctor is better equipped to treat the patient and their individual needs

via www.hplusmagazine.com

Today's addition to my What if the Impossible Isn't (WITII) list and another great example of how the Snowflake Effect of mass personalzation continues to expand.  This recent development in contact lenses enables ophthalmologists to accurately monitor how an individual the eyes of a patient with glaucoma are working and personalize their treatment.