computer science
technology
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The three men who received the bionic hands have been able to accomplish various tasks that they would not have been able to do otherwise such as pouring water, picking up a ball, using a knife, using a key, and using both hands together to undo a button.
Bionic reconstruction can potentially help many who have lost the ability to control their limbs by giving them chance to live a normal life.
Bionic reconstruction can help make the lives of those with brachial plexus injuries, or injuries in nerves that originate in the neck and extend to the upper body, much simpler. Most injuries occur from trauma and high speed collisions, and are most common in sports such as rugby and football. A person with a brachial plexus injury would be unable to control his upper limbs due to the nerve damage, and replacing the obsolete limbs with prosthetic ones that the mind controls help them achieve normal everyday lives.
As great as it sounds, bionic reconstruction will not be available to the public just yet. English professor Simon Kay stated that any sort of prosthetic implant needs to be tested long-term due to the reduced compliance of the part over time. However, such research is greatly supported due to the providing of neural inputs into prosthetic systems because it has never been accomplished before.
Bionic reconstruction can potentially help many who have lost the ability to control their limbs by giving them chance to live a normal life. As this process gains awareness, many people all over the world will be able to receive the groundbreaking treatment- so don’t be surprised if you meet a cyborg in the near future.
image sources
nlm.nih.gov (top)
touchbionics.com
(left)
BerkelyBionics(right)