The Digital Divide jan. 2013 | Page 6

How the arm works?

When the patient thinks about a specific movement of the arm or hand, the nerve impuls travels from the brain to a corresponding location on the muscle.

Electrodes fixed to the harness worn on the shoulder detect electrical impulses emitted from the nerves and forward them to the arm.

A computer processes the electrical impulses and makes the arm perform certain movements, such as flexing the elbow, opening and closing the hand, and extending the elbow and wrist.

Sensation nerves to the hand re-route the patch of skin on the chest, giving the patient the sense of touch.

Harness

Electrodes

The docters redirected the nerves to the patients chest mustles.

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Real bionic arm