Artificial Limbs & Organs

Introduction

An interesting but not so popular fact when it comes to dating the progress of prosthetics is that the concept has been around since Ancient Egyptian times. The first accolade of artificial body parts was a 3000-year-old wooden toe excavated in Luxor, Egypt in the Sheikh ´Abd el-Qurna burial chamber, and was believed to be a designed for the daughter of a high priestess. It was believed to be the earliest prosthetic organ ever discovered and was speculated to be a perfect fit for the found remains. We can slowly trace the development by a journey through the Middle Ages (Iron leg replacements for knights), Ancient Rome (Staffs for wounded soldiers) and arriving at the 1500s for the first proof of rudimentary prosthetic technology. The technology in recent past was widely known to be an expensive one, with the working class barely being able to afford one. Looking forward, we have seen a significant amount of progress in prosthetic technology all the way up to industrial production of artificial limbs, hearing aids, and synthetic organs in the 21st century that have been literal lifesavers to disabled individuals that no longer have the luxury of being physically normal anymore. This is nowadays not just a science for engineering anymore, as contribution from virtually all fields of science and technology are guaranteed to be seen in a finished bionic.

Early Developments

As is customary to almost all fields of science, the title “Father of the Prosthetic Leg” in this case was offered to Ambroise Paré who lived in France during the 1500s. He was also a notable figure in surgery, due to his contributions in improving amputation techniques and survival rates around wartime. He was the first few to apply anatomical knowledge to design devices mimicking human limbs. His main accolade was “above-knee prosthetic with an adjustable harness and a hinge-knee with lock control”, a concept that is still used in the present day.

The United States Library of Congress documents the first invention of an artificial limb in the Western World by Benjamin Franklin Palmer from New Hampshire, on November 4, 1846. This was logged by the US Patent number 4834 and was marked as the first invention for a functioning prosthetic. Although remarkable for its generation, it used springs and metal tendons for movement. The United States was in fact a generous contributor to the research on this field, companies dedicated to industrial production of artificial limbs began as early as 1800s and evolved into successful companies like Hanger Inc., Salem Leg Company, and so on in present day.

Present Technology

The technology present in implementing something such as an artificial organ has long evolved from simple design and fabrication, to connecting concepts from a plethora of sciences to provide a robust and reliable architecture. Let us take an example of “Hero Arm” from Open Bionics Inc. — an English firm researching and developing advanced prosthetics.

This device is the “world’s first clinically approved 3D-printed bionic arm” in the UK after clinical trials in June 2017. The arm works by sensing user’s muscle contractions via EMG electrodes and activates different grips for movement. Something this complex needs precise sensing, processing, circuitry and programming to function efficiently. This is a huge testament to how far the field has progressed from concept to reality, and furthermore tells us how important it is for all areas of engineering to collaborate together. The device was made possible due to countless efforts by different mechanical engineers, software engineers, electronics engineers, product designers and etc.

Prosthetic technology has also been successfully miniaturized on multiple occasions, one of them being ocular prosthesis — the process of replacement of a damaged eye with a synthetic one. Domestically, Horus Ocular Prosthetic Excel (HOPE) Center in Chennai, India. Has been a competent provider for such services. Enucleation is the technical term for the surgery that is offered, and the eye is replaced with a glass substitute. As of late, there have been improvements in technology that allow pairing ocular nerves with synthetic receptors, which makes blind individuals capable of having sight again.

Domestically, we have an undertaking known as the Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India by our Government that provides certified information and products on Artificial extensions for different disabilities.

• Rehabilitation and Mobility Aids for Orthopedically Impaired.
• Portable & Digital Hearing Aids for Visually Handicapped.

One of their mission statements include “Focus on continuous technology up-gradation and develop in-house capabilities for cutting edge R&D through collaboration with research institutions and entrepreneurs within India and abroad” — which will be an important aspect in the development of prosthetic technology domestically.

Conclusion

The research and development of prosthetic technology is at a full swing by contributions from different areas of science and engineering. As of late, the science of Artificial Intelligence has been exploited to automate design and manufacture of artificial limbs to an amazing degree. This technology has already been patented with detailed schematics by the US-based Southwest Research Institute. Computer Aided Design and workflows are an essential part of this process. In the future, we will be seeing the scientific community focus on improving the quality of healthcare provided to individuals, incidents such as the current pandemic situations or advances in research being a prime motivator. The one certain thing that opportunities in this field are vast can be learnt from its current trend.

References

• Article on Cairo foot — Smithsonian Magazine.
• Artificial Leg — Army Medical Center, 1943; Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress.
• The Hero Arm — Open Bionics Inc.
• Artificial Limbs Manufacturing — Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India.
• Automated design and manufacture of artificial limbs — Southwest Research Institute (SwRI).