What Are Prosthetics?
 Prosthetics are artificial limbs or
body parts, that replace missing or
malfunctioning body parts
 Most common prosthesis are the leg
and arm, and more recently also
heart valves
Prosthetic Leg & Arm
The Beginning
 Around 1500 B.C. was the time when
“prosthetics” were “engineered”
 Were not functional
 Only purpose was to help with
movement
 Were generally made of wood
The Push Towards Modern
Prosthetics
 In the mid 1800s, Sir James Syme
discovered a way to amputate at the thigh
 This meant that there was a possibility of
walking again
 Both World Wars were key in the
developmental progress of prosthetics
 Parts used in prosthetics were introduced
from various fields
Design Breakthroughs
 In the early 1800s, James Potts designed the first
wooden functional prosthetic foot, which was
controlled by tendons from the knee to the foot
 In the mid 1900s, prosthetics now had a endo-skeletal
design instead of a exo-skeletal
 This allowed the hard shell-like exterior to be replaced
with a foam cover, so the weight and force was applied
to the ‘core’ of the prosthetic rather than the exterior
Evolution
Basic Prosthetics Today
 Cosmetic Prosthetics ($) 1– Generally for upper limb
amputation, low to no functionality, made from PVC
or silicone
 Body-Powered Prosthetics ($$) 2– Generally for upper
limb amputation, limited amount of functionality
provided by muscles in the relative area
Myoelectric Prosthesis
 Are more complex then some of the other prosthesis on the
market
 Can reach over the head, down by the feet, and out to the
sides of the body
 Many tests must be conducted to make sure it is suitable
 Internal Components: electrodes, battery pack, control unit
(processing), motors, and sensors
Myoelectric Prosthesis
 Is an externally powered prosthesis that uses
electromyography (EMG) signals from voluntarily
contracted muscles in the residual limb for movement
 Electrode sensors are embedded in the prosthetic’s
socket to make contact with the surface of the skin
Things to Consider
 Functional prosthetics are available,
however there is a still room for
improvement
 There is a high cost for fully functional
prosthesis
 Human vs. machine – where is the line
drawn?
References

Gutfleisch, O. (2003). Peg Legs and Bionic Limbs: The Development of Lower
Extremity Prosthetics. Interdisciplinary Science Reviews, 28(2), 139-148.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1179/030801803225010368

Lam, S. (n.d.). Types of Prosthesis. Retrieved March 21, 2013, from Myoelectric
Prosthesis website: http://bme240.eng.uci.edu/students/10s/slam5/types.html

Norton, K. M. (2007, November/December). A Brief History of Prosthetics. inMotion,
17(7). Retrieved from http://www.amputeecoalition.org/inmotion/nov_dec_07/history_prosthetics.html

Peerdeman, B., Boere, D., Witteveen, H., Huis in't Veld, R., Hermens, H., Stramigioli,
S., . . . Misra, S. (n.d.). Myoelectric Forearm Prostheses: State of the Art From A Usercentered Perspective. Journal of Rehabilitation Research & Development, 48(6), 719-737.
doi:10.1682/JRRD.2010.08.0161

Prosthetics of Future Will Mesh Body, Mind and Machine. (2005, October 26).
Retrieved March 21, 2013, from United States Department of Veterans Affairs website:
http://www.research.va.gov/news/features/prosthetics.cfm#.UHY8kyKsGCQ

Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosthesis March 23, 2013.

Google Images. http://www.google.com/images March 21, 2013.