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Students Create Thought-Controlled Prosthetic Arm

Posted by timothy on from the only-the-good-thoughts-I-hope dept.

Zothecula writes "Two undergraduate students from Toronto's Ryerson University have created a prosthetic arm that is controlled by its wearer's brain signals, and powered by compressed air. Not only is the Artificial Muscle-Operated (AMO) Arm said to offer a greater range of movement than traditional prostheses, but it also doesn't require the amputee to undergo invasive surgery, is easy to learn to use, and it is relatively inexpensive to make."

4 of 50 comments (clear)

  1. Looks great by MichaelSmith · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The article discusses other projects they are looking at. Artificial lungs and way of bypassing spinal cord injuries. Its the sort of pragmatic engineering we should see more of in medicine. I hope they can deliver.

    --
    http://michaelsmith.id.au
  2. What? by a_hanso · · Score: 3, Funny

    No "CANADIAN students create thought controlled prosthetic arm"?

    Disclaimer: Big fan of Canada. I'm joking and I'm drunk.

  3. Dodgy article by EdZ · · Score: 3, Informative
    Hard to tell whether this is anything new or not when the article makes such glaring errors as:

    While some traditional prosthetic arms move via myoelectric motors and relays

    Myoelectrics involves sensing muscle movements by the electric fields generated, and is nothing to do with a type of electric motor. I doubt if anyone has used a relay in a prosthetic limb for at least a decade.
    If they really just using an EEG headband to control the arm, it's going to have very low controlled dexterity, and extremely slow response.

  4. Re:How long before this repaces keybord/mouse by andrea.sartori · · Score: 3, Funny

    I do see a lot of risk to confusing the brain about normal mussel use if not done properly.

    These hate-fueled, misleading claims made by oyster producer shills must be stopped! Mussel is a perfectly healty and safe food!!!1

    --
    Mostly harmless.