WOW: DARPA bionic arm

[Dr Mordrid]

Wow....check out this video (link....)

Patients Test an Advanced Prosthetic Arm

By Emily Singer - Tuesday, February 10, 2009

A new surgical technique, developed by scientists at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, allows patients who have lost arms to use residual nerve signals to control a prosthetic limb. This video shows three patients testing a prototype limb being developed by DARPA. The patients can perform complex tasks, including picking up a cup, grasping a cracker without breaking it, and putting a spoon in a cup. Video by DEKA Research and Development, and The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago - Read the Blog

[KRSESQ]

Crazy cool. I wonder what they're using for sensory feedback?

Kevin

edit Read the blog. I guess they have it covered.

[Dr Mordrid]

Pressure, temperature and touch (low level pressure) sensors in the finger pads routed to the same repositioned nerves under the skin at the shoulder that does the movement.

The resolution of the signals is getting better all the time, and another arm has 26 ways of freedom for the hand - enough to play the piano.

[KRSESQ]

Now the question becomes: which will be first? A true bionic limb that mimics the function of a natural limb perfectly (or near enough so for Turing), or a completely regenerated, regrown natural limb?

I'm tempted to say odds are even.

Kevin

[Wulfman]

I´d wager a bet on the bionic arm. growing a complex organ with bones, various tissues, intact nerves is quite some time off.

really impressive that the guy is able to drink with the arm. would be quite easy to smash the cup in ones face if control is not stringent.

mfg
wulfman

[Dr Mordrid]

Now the question becomes: which will be first? A true bionic limb that mimics the function of a natural limb perfectly (or near enough so for Turing), or a completely regenerated, regrown natural limb?

A few weeks ago DARPA ended Phase 1 of their Restorative Injury Repair project by successfully generating a blastema* in an otherwise non-regenerating animal - a HUGE advance.

Phase 2 started shortly after with several major universities, the Worcester Polytechnic Institute and CellThera Inc. (biotech startup in a joint venture with WPI) participating.

I agree with the position that it's a horse race, but 60/40 in favor of the cyborgs are IMO the appropriate odds.

* a blastema is a mass of undifferentiated cells capable of growth and regeneration into organs or body parts.They are found in embryos and animals that can regenerate body parts as adults; salamanders, some fish etc.

[Dr Mordrid]

Now the question becomes: which will be first? A true bionic limb that mimics the function of a natural limb perfectly (or near enough so for Turing), or a completely regenerated, regrown natural limb?

A few weeks ago DARPA ended Phase 1 of their Restorative Injury Repair project by successfully generating a blastema* in an otherwise non-regenerating animal - a HUGE advance as these are the progenitors of a new limb or organ. This is the goals statement issued by DARPA when Phase I started - note the last sentence;

The vision for the Restorative Injury Repair (RIR) Program is to fully restore the function of complex tissue (muscle, nerves, skin, etc.) after traumatic injury on the battlefield. These injuries include both kinetic (i.e., penetrating wounds) as well as other destructive injuries (chemical and thermal burns, musculoskeletal injuries, blast overpressure, etc.). RIR aims to replace the current concepts of “wound coverage” by fibrosis and scarring with true “wound healing” by regeneration of fully differentiated, functional tissue.

The program will achieve its goals by developing a comprehensive understanding of the wound environment, including cellular elements, matrix, inflammatory mediators, growth factors, nutrients, substrate utilization, biofilms, and ultimately processes of morphogenesis leading to anatomic and functional restoration. This is an extremely aggressive, milestone-driven program, with a Phase I effort focused on defining the wound environment and generating a blastema in an otherwise non-regenerating animal. This work will be followed by a Phase II effort, which will culminate in the restoration of a functional multi-tissue structure in a mammal.

Phase 2 started shortly after Phase 1 ended with several major universities, the Worcester Polytechnic Institute and CellThera Inc (a startup in a joint venture with WPI) participating.

Looks like a horse race, 60/40 in favor of the cyborgs.

* a blastema is a mass of undifferentiated cells capable of growth and regeneration into organs or body parts.They are found in embryos and animals that can regenerate body parts as adults; salamanders etc.