Electrical engineering has allowed for some great advances in medical technology. One of the most cutting edge and important technologies being developed is prosthetics. Today's advanced prosthetics are controlled using electrical signals from muscles that control the prosthetic limb. One of the major flaws in these prosthetics is that the person controlling the limb cannot feel what the object is or how much pressure they are applying. The user often uses visual cues to judge this which can be very difficult. The lack of sensory information is a major drawback in today's prosthetics. Technology currently being developed can even take electrical signals created by the user's thoughts to control the prosthetic to a limited degree. These issues being said, there is definitely room for improvement.
In July of 2011 four universities were given a 1.2 million dollar grant to continue to develop prosthetics that, using a cap of electrodes, would allow users' to not only control prosthetics with thoughts but also give feedback on the object they are touching and how much force they are applying. The universities were Drexel University, Rice University, University of Maryland, and the University of Michigan. The four year project is being funded by the National Science Foundation's Human-Centered Computing program. As good as this is, it is not enough. This technology would greatly soften the physical and psychological effects of losing a limb. Certainly the advanced prosthetics being developed would serve the user much better than ones readily available today. There has been a recent large push in the area of advanced prosthetics from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) with United States soldiers returning from the wars in the Middle East. Many soldiers have lost limbs serving their country and advanced prosthetics could make a great difference in returning to their day to day lives. With this technology within reach and more relevant than ever, it is important to invest in it. This grant is a step forward however much more will have to be done to make this technology affordable to those who need it.
A lost limb can not be truly replaced however with developing technologies prosthetics that return almost complete functionality could be just around the corner. The number of people who could benefit from these prosthetics is not known but there are certainly enough to make this an important issue. This is just one of the many important roles electrical engineering plays in the medical field and a fraction of electrical engineering's place in our modern times. These universities receiving a grant is good news to hear but it shows that the funding is lacking. Hopefully, this is the first of many grants to come.
I liked the explanation you gave in the introduction about why this technology is needing improvement in the ability of the user to receive any feedback or control how much force is exerted. I especially like how you tied it into an issue that resonates with a lot of people today, soldiers returning from the Middle East. Good job.
ReplyDeleteLosing a limb is very serious problem not just for soldiers, but for people in other countries, where just walking risks them running into a land mine. This advancement would not only help those in the United States and other developed countires, but would those in dire need especially children in these undeveloped countires. A very informative blog about a problem that needs to be addressed.
ReplyDeleteI really like the detailed explanations of how individuals use prosthetics. I also like how you made it a call to action that there needs to be more money invested in this field. Maybe add a picture of a prosthetic limb to break up the text, overall solid review.
ReplyDeleteGreat review. However, you can add a picture or two to make it more eye pleasing.
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