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Improving the Abilities of Bionic Arm Patients

Posted by Soulskill on from the you-and-what-e-arm dept.

Al writes "Tech Review has an article about the progress being made on prosthetic arms that can be controlled using nerves that once connected to the missing limb via muscles in the chest. Todd Kuiken, director of the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago's Center for Bionic Medicine has pioneered the technique, which has so far given more than 30 patients the ability to control a mechanical prosthetic simply by thinking about moving their old arm. Those who have had the procedure report using their arm to slice hot peppers, open a bag of flour, put on a belt, operate a tape measure, or remove a new tennis ball from a container. The next step is to add sensing capabilities to the arms so that this information can be fed back to the reconnected nerves."

9 of 46 comments (clear)

  1. The big question: by DurendalMac · · Score: 4, Funny

    Can you safely whack off with the bionic arm? It's like giving yourself a stranger!

    1. Re:The big question: by fuzzyfuzzyfungus · · Score: 4, Funny

      More along the lines of "giving yourself an inhuman mechanical claw"; but if that's how you roll...

    2. Re:The big question: by gad_zuki! · · Score: 3, Funny

      No, but in this sales video you'll find how to easily win the hearts of attractive blonde women.

  2. i bet by Durin00 · · Score: 3, Funny

    one of these things cost an arm & a leg!

  3. Re:Go ahead! Make my day! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Mod parent up!

  4. Dear Slashdot, by Mr.+Conrad · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'm a one-armed commando in need of a bionic arm. However, I was hoping to acquire one with a grappling hook attachment instead of the ubiquitous mechanized hand replacements. I have reason to believe that Imperialist Nazis are trying to resurrect Adolf Hitler and believe a grappling hook would help me stop them, especially when my underdeveloped leg muscles and inability to jump vertically, diagonally, or horizontally are taken into account. Does anyone know where I might find such a gadget? Any information is greatly appreciated.

    Sincerely,
    Ladd

  5. Re:Go ahead! Make my day! by Arthur+Grumbine · · Score: 3, Funny

    I know I'll get modded down for this, but, hmmm...Let's test this out...

    --
    Now that I think about it, I'm pretty sure everything I just said is completely wrong.
  6. Re:Go ahead! Make my day! by Arthur+Grumbine · · Score: 1, Funny

    Mod parent up!

    --
    Now that I think about it, I'm pretty sure everything I just said is completely wrong.
  7. Re:Born 50 years too early. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    I didn't know we had switched over to metric years already. I'd better go buy new calendars!