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`Bionic' Arm Brings Back Sense of Touch

bdcrazy writes "Two way communication with prosthetic devices allows man who lost both arms in an accident to feel hot and cold, to sense objects and to actually move the prosthetic device to pick things up and put them down. "

38 of 234 comments (clear)

  1. Nice by natron+2.0 · · Score: 5, Funny

    It is well and good until the arms short circuit and try to kill him...

    1. Re:Nice by CorporateWhoremone · · Score: 5, Funny

      lineman for a Tennessee power company, Sullivan in 2001 grabbed a high-tension wire carrying 7,400 volts of electricity, which incinerated his arms. If his 12V arms shorted I don't think it would even phase this guy.

      --
      You make fun of France once and your Karma is never the same...
    2. Re:Nice by Quirk · · Score: 4, Informative

      When good hands go bad.

      --
      "Academicians are more likely to share each other's toothbrush than each other's nomenclature."
      Cohen
    3. Re:Nice by geekster · · Score: 2, Funny

      I was sure you were going to say "... until someones looses an eye"

      "So human! Does this feel hot or cold to you!?" *poke* *poke* *poke*
      "aaaaarrrrrhhhg!!"

  2. Flashback by lukewarmfusion · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...to robot pricking each finger and palm, one by one, as the patient says "ow!" and then wrapping the prosthetic arm in a black glove...

  3. Step 2 by Nytewynd · · Score: 5, Funny

    The next step is finding out that Darth Vader is your daddy.

    --
    /. ++
    1. Re:Step 2 by Eclypser · · Score: 5, Funny

      No oo ooo oooo ooooo

      --
      The comment has already been made. Let's move it along people. Nothing to see here.
  4. Peltier Junction by Enigma_Man · · Score: 5, Informative

    These work using a peltier junction. For those not "in-the-know", peltier junctions are basically chunks of metal that push heat to one side when you run current through them one way, and the other side when you run current through them the other way. This provides a cold, and a hot side that can be varied very quickly from cold to hot, by changing the amount and direction of the current. They are very inefficient though, requiring a lot of current that is generated as excess heat overall. These are commonly used to cool processor cores down, pushing more heat into the heatsink, but keeping the core cooler than it would be with just a heatsink.

    -Jesse

    --
    Nothing says "unprofessional job" like wrinkles in your duct tape.
    1. Re:Peltier Junction by RapmasterT · · Score: 3, Informative
      These are commonly used to cool processor cores down, pushing more heat into the heatsink, but keeping the core cooler than it would be with just a heatsink.
      I'd disagree that they're "commonly used" for CPU cooling. Peltier heat sink assemblies have fallen way out of vogue in the last few years and were never particularly popular in the first place. Problems like generating a significantly higher amount of waste heat, while simultaneously creating a frost (no kidding) and condensation problem made them extremely impractical when faced with water cooling options.

      That being said, peltier cooling IS commonly used in those little desk top refridgerators and portable DC cooler/warmers that you see for sale in RV catalogs.

  5. Fast enough? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Would the user be able to sense that his arm is in liquid-hot MAAGMAAA before it melted?

  6. Old, artificial arm joke by winkydink · · Score: 5, Funny

    This reminds me of the old joke about the voice-actuated artificial arm.

    They finally attach one to an armless human patient and it goes like this.

    The guy says, "Arm, scratch my nose". And the arm does it.

    "Amazing!", says the guy.

    "Arm, sign my name." The arm does it.

    This continues for quite a while. Finally when the guy's alone.
    He says, "Arm, take off my pants." The arm complies.

    He looks at the arm, and then at his penis and says, "OK arm, jerk it off!"

    --

    "I'd rather be a lightning rod than a seismometer." -Ken Kesey

    1. Re:Old, artificial arm joke by mat+catastrophe · · Score: 4, Funny

      You can make this joke worse by adding the following:

      The guy then screams in pain, "Oh, fuck me!"

      --
      sig not found
  7. cheaper than I expected by justforaday · · Score: 5, Funny

    So far it's only cost about $100,000, which is far cheaper than the $6,000,000 that was originally estimated. Maybe we'll get a little closer to that price once another arm is added, and some legs and a head and body...

    --
    I'll turn into a supernova and burn up everything. Well I'll turn into a black little hole and you'll turn into string.
    1. Re:cheaper than I expected by lgw · · Score: 4, Funny

      Six million dollars total, perhaps?

      --
      Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.
    2. Re:cheaper than I expected by dubiousx99 · · Score: 3, Funny

      Ok so we now know the exact cost of an arm, when will they do a leg so we can finally know how much an arm and a leg really cost?

  8. OOoooh by TCaptain · · Score: 3, Funny

    "We can rebuild him. We have the technology.
    We have the capability to make the world's first Bionic man.
    Steve Austin will be that man. Better than he was before.
    Better . . . stronger . . . faster."

    --
    "I'm not a procrastinator, I'm temporally challenged"
  9. Non-binary feedback by UltimateWager · · Score: 5, Funny
    The article describes being able to feel different levels of pressure in addition to different temperatures. It sounds like an impressive level of feedback.

    Anybody want to take bets on how long it takes for a Linux dist. to be built for it?

    1. Re:Non-binary feedback by Rosco+P.+Coltrane · · Score: 4, Funny

      The article describes being able to feel different levels of pressure in addition to different temperatures. It sounds like an impressive level of feedback.

      Anybody want to take bets on how long it takes for a Linux dist. to be built for it?


      About 5 years, 1 year for the guy to learn how to type "make menuconfig" with his toes, and another 4 for gentoo to finish compiling.

      --
      "A door is what a dog is perpetually on the wrong side of" - Ogden Nash
  10. What does this mean to biotechnology? by pestilence669 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I keep wondering if advances in prothetics will slow research into regrowing limbs. Once the replacement becomes better than the real thing, will people trade in their real arms for fake ones?

    1. Re:What does this mean to biotechnology? by Reverend528 · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Why on earth would anyone want to trade in a real arm for a robotic one? Why not just have 3 arms?

    2. Re:What does this mean to biotechnology? by fuzzybunny · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I would love to have a hand on my forehead. I have tried to convince my girlfriend that this would, in fact be wicked cool (even more so than my idea for over-and-under double barreled penises) but she doesn't seem to get it.

      Think about it--sipping coffee, smoking a cigarette, keeping your sunglases from slipping off your forehead, reading maps while driving, the possibilities are endless.

      As for "wouldn't look appealing"? Well, if someone ever criticized my third forehead hand, I'd lean in real close, look them in the eye, and SLAP THEM.

      --
      Cole's Law: Thinly sliced cabbage
  11. Re:Yes but... by CyricZ · · Score: 2, Funny

    Your link is broken. But I suspect something happened to his penis. Could you elaborate? How was it cut off? Did some machinery in a shop explode and tear his penis off? Or did a trout eat it?

    --
    Cyric Zndovzny at your service.
  12. Masturbating. by Poromenos1 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Masturbating without a sense of touch is way better though, it doesn't feel like you're doing it... Not that I'd know! :P

    --
    Send email from the afterlife! Write your e-will at Dead Man's Switch.
    1. Re:Masturbating. by Weaselmancer · · Score: 2, Informative

      I believe the term you're looking for is a Stranger. =)

      --
      Weaselmancer
      rediculous.
  13. more technical article by Formica · · Score: 5, Informative
    Here's an article with a little more details on the technical end:

    Rewired, amputee lifts arm with mind

  14. Relocated arm nerves by nizo · · Score: 4, Funny
    Sullivan's prosthesis has a computer in the forearm that is wired to a mechanical hand and to a "plunger" device on his chest. The hand sends signals up the wires to the plunger, which pushes the skin. That stimulates the nerves in his chest to transmit sensations to the brain as if the nerves were still connected to his real hand.
    On Wednesday, when Kuiken touched a spot on Sullivan's chest, Sullivan said: "Oh, that's right between the finger and thumb on the back side of the hand."
    If Kuiken touches one of Sullivan's prosthetic fingers, Sullivan can feel it and say which finger it is.

    Wow. I just know he is glad he can still play the "pull my finger" game with his grandkids.

  15. The 'burning' question still remains... by Mikey+Rowan · · Score: 2, Funny

    Does he run linux?

  16. Re:Yes but... by koreaman · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Supposedly they found his penis and put it back on. This according to the article you linked. I've heard of not R'ing TFA, but you should at least R your OWN TFA.

  17. Obligatory Red Dwarf Scene by Cr0w+T.+Trollbot · · Score: 2, Funny
    KRYTEN: Okay, now let's recap: the limb is connected to neurons which run up to the left hemisphere of your brain, which controls the right side of your body. Now, all you have to do is merely command the arm to do something, and it obeys. Now, let's practice. Right, concentrate, sir. I want you to think: "arm - pick up the ball".

    LISTER: Okay.

    KRYTEN: Now just think: "I will pick up the ball"

    LISTER: I will pick up the ball.

    KRYTEN: That's right, good, now, concentrate.

    LISTER: *I will pick up the ball*.

    KRYTEN: Okay, now *really* think: Hand --

    LISTER: I will pick up the ball.

    KRYTEN: -- pick up the ball. That's right, that's right.

    LISTER: *Pick up the ball*.

    KRYTEN: Pick up the ball. Hand, pick up the ball! That's right, now *keep* going, sir! Pick up the ball! Now, focus down onto that and keep the thought, sir! Hand, pick up the ball!

    LISTER grunts, effort twisting his feature as the hand lies motionless

    KRYTEN: That's right, sir, now keep going, now *really think*, now. Hand, pick up the ball! Now let's really get it going, sir!

    LISTER: Pick up the ball! *Pick up the ball*!

    KRYTEN: REALLY START TO GO NOW, SIR!

    LISTER: HAND, PICK UP THE BALL

    KRYTEN: NOW LET'S KEEP MOVING! KEEP ON, SIR, YOU *CAN* DO IT!

    LISTER: HAND, PICK UP THE BALL!

    KRYTEN: YOU'RE GOING TO MOVE THAT HAND, SIR! YOU'RE *GOING* TO MOVE IT! MOVE THE HAND, SIR!! LISTER: HAND! PICK UP THE BALL!! PICK UP THE BALL!!

    KRYTEN: YES SIR! YES! WE'RE STARTING TO MOVE, NOW! YES! IT'S DEFINITELY MOVING, SIR! YES!! Oh! Bravo, sir!!

    LISTER grabs the ball and sets it three or four inches away.

    - Crow T. Trollbot

  18. Re:Cost Prohibitive by markana · · Score: 2, Funny

    Yeah, but $6mil *used* to get you an arm, two legs, and an eye. Now it's just an arm.

    I guess that's inflation for you...

  19. Without a sense of touch in the penis or the hand? by CyricZ · · Score: 2, Funny

    Do you prefer not feeling your hand on the penis, or not feeling the feelings of the penis in your hand?

    --
    Cyric Zndovzny at your service.
  20. Re:Prosthetic brain? by Darth_brooks · · Score: 5, Insightful

    More like one of those instants where your brain, while processing the signals you've just sent to your appendages, says to itself:

    Fuck. This guy's an idiot.

    I've done stupid things with electricty. Similar things. Not once, but twice, I've touched both metal ends of a Flourescent light tube while the light was on. Once while a box cutter was in my hand, touching the metal end of one of the lights. Not me showing off being an idiot, just having one of those beautiful moments where Darwin should have taken over. My hands got moving faster than my mind could slow them down.

    This guy was probably up on a cherry picker. His weight shifted, a gust of wind came along, etc and as he started to fall his insticts yelled:

    GRAB SOMETHING!

    meanwhile his mind, not really paying attention sees what's happening and says:

    Nono don't grab th.....nevermind.

    Yeah, the guy probably screwed up somewhere down the line but Shit will invariably, consistently, and always, Happen.

    --
    There are some people that if they don't know, you can't tell 'em.
  21. Re:Prosthetic brain? by Rosco+P.+Coltrane · · Score: 4, Funny

    I don't mean to sound like an insentive asshole

    You definitely should consider being fitted with a prosthetic asshole that can feel hot and cold and sense objects.

    --
    "A door is what a dog is perpetually on the wrong side of" - Ogden Nash
  22. Usage stats by Quiet_Desperation · · Score: 4, Funny

    "For some reason his right arm is showing more wear than the left," said Dr. Todd Kuiken. "Especially around the fingers and palm. We're not sure what's up with that."

  23. kind of off topic but relevent by baloo63 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    my dad has lost one arm and the use of another arm in a hay baler. while i am always excited to see this kind of technology advancing, it is obviously aways away from practical use for a farmer. my dad has recently expressed alot of interest in using a computer, does anyone know anything that would make the computing experience easier for someone with no mobility in limbs?

  24. Correction: by game+kid · · Score: 2, Funny
    "We can rebuild him. We have the technology.
    We have the capability to make the world's first Bionic man.
    In fact, we have some good news.

    "We just saved a bunch of money on our car insurance
    by switching to GEICO."

    --The Six Million Dollar Invoice

    --
    You can hold down the "B" button for continuous firing.
  25. Re:Prosthetic brain? by Linker3000 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Where I did my electronics engineering apprenticeship, we had a guy who had suffered a similar accident. His whole nervous system was shot to pieces and he had to wear tinted glasses because his eyes became sensitive to light. He had two claws for arms...and worked as a draughtsman in the drawing office!

    One day he was in front of me at a drinks vending machine and he asked me to put the coins in for him as this was about the only thing he couldn't do with his claws. He punched the buttons and out came a cup of coffee. Just as he went to pick it up, the plastic 'splash door' on the front of the cup area (which was stuck up) came down and knocked the cup, spilling coffee over his claw.

    "Damn", he said, "but at least I didn't get burned!".

    He was a really nice guy.

    --
    AT&ROFLMAO
  26. Accidents happen, you insensitive clod! by mangu · · Score: 2, Informative
    Was this one of those famous, "Hold my beer and watch this!" situations that seem to have become so well known?


    Most probably not. There was a similar case in an electric power company where I used to work years ago. This is how it happened: A maintenance crew was doing a job in a 180MW generator in a power plant. While an engineer was holding simultaneously the 13800 volts busbar, with a short-circuit current of 20000 amps, with one hand and the grounded rack with the other hand, someone closed the breaker. The engineer's arms were instantly carbonized, he died three days later.


    This accident wasn't caused by stupidity, but by bad coordination. After this, the company instituted a security measure to avoid it happening again. The breaker controls in all power stations were fitted with a protecting bar with several holes matching a stud in the panel. Everyone working in the generator puts a padlock through one of the hole pairs, and keeps the key. The breaker can be closed again only after every padlock has been removed.