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Prosthetic limb technology in sports research paper
What advantages can prosthetics bring
Advantages and disadvantages of prosthetics
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INTRODUCTION:
Prosthetic limbs have been in existence for thousands of years in various shapes and sizes and all have the same core purpose, which is to help improve the lives of people who have either been unfortunate or have lost limbs in accidents and/or wars. Over time, prosthetic limbs have evolved and changed due to changes in technology or an up-rise of different viable materials that humans have access to. The following report will asses the materials and benefits of such, in past and present prosthetic limbs whether they be hands, fingers or legs.
MATERIALS IN PROSTHETICS:
The materials in prosthetic limbs have always evolved along side technology, usually changing for the better. Prior to the development of electronics and plastics,
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As human technology develops it is a potentiality that the use of prosthetic limbs may become more advanced that the real human limb giving people the edge on sports fields and in the workforce. An imbalance between prosthetics and human limbs may become present as people may willingly have their limbs replaced by a robotic or part biological counterpart.
It may not even be prosthetic limbs, but organ replacements and other biological parts of the body that could be replaced. Like human eyes or the heart. The use of prosthetic limbs or prosthetic external equipment could become an essential part of the military. However, the benefits of military prosthetics could lead to the recommissioning of former soldiers turned
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It is predicted that humans will come a long way throughout the 2st century, hopefully eliminating the possibility for amputees to have a disadvantaged life. 3D printing is set out to be one of the most revolutionary technologies of this decade and will continue to impress on the biological front. Thanks to the use of 3D printing, new limbs can be printed with exceptionally accuracy for a infinitesimal cost. Even in the year 2017, new limbs can be printed for less than $100 USD per person making it a cheap alternative to more “advanced” prosthetic
Organisms are limited by the structure of their bodies. Some creatures are capable to do great things because of the number of limbs they have, or the density of their skin. Humans in particular are extremely reliant in the capabilities that our bodies bring to us. Our bodies however, are not all dependable, as we can injure ourselves, and even lose parts of our body. To combat this loss of body, the great minds of our species have created false limbs to replace what we have lost. This great improvement to our lives is known as, the prosthetic. In recent years this technology has expanded into a new form, that combines prosthetics and robotics to make life for people
One guy named Fox takes care of injured birds. One bird in particular called a sand crane would regularly injure its frail legs. Without their legs cranes cannot survive. Fox finally decided he put down enough cranes, and he started working on a prosthetic leg for the crane. The first crane to receive a plastic leg walked around as if it were her real leg (Anthes 137). The crane went from on the verge of dying to walking around naturally with a prosthetic. The crane now can live a longer healthy life, rather than dying well before its life expectancy. Cranes sometimes scratch themselves with the plastic leg as they would with their real legs. Prosthetics possess a wide range of capabilities that have the ability to help several different animals from dolphins to small fragile
In 1985 the movie going community was enthralled with its newest hit movie titled Short Circuit. The movie portrayed a robot that due to accidental electrocution believed that it was alive. In the final scenes the robot know as Johnny five was seen removing one of its damaged robotic arms and replacing it with a new and identical arm. This idea of replacing one limb with another of equal function was unfortunately only movie fiction. This fiction however is quickly becoming a reality for countless thousands of people living with prosthetic limbs. In the October 1998 issue of Scientific American the story of Melissa Del Pozzo a thirteen year old girl living with a prosthetic limb gives an example of the hope many are living with. Her only dream is that she could one day tickle the ivories of her piano again. Her hope could soon be rewarded. With continued research, prosthesis's are making advancements that were once only dreams. These advancements are seeing the most change in the areas of dexterous movement, feeling, and comfort.
His aim was to in-crease amputees’ confidence in the use of their prosthetics and their mental attitude. He recruited 100 volunteer amputees and put them through the programme. The results sug-gested that he achieved his aim he noted improvements in the physical and mental well-being of the volunteers. They also gained confidence in using their prosthetic which aided their recovery. Their mental well-being was particularly important as it was noted that a positive mental attitude and acceptance of the prosthetic resulted in a quicker recovery time (Dillingham, T.R., 1998).
Alumina and zirconia ceramics have been widely used in orthopaedic hip replacements for the past 30 years. The advantage of using these was lower wear rates than those observed using polymers and metals. Because of the ionic bonds and chemical stability of ceramics, they are relatively biocompatible and therefore more preferable to use than metals and polymers. Alumina is most commonly used as a femoral head component instead of a metal in a hip prosthesis because this would reduce the polyethylene wear that is generated. Alumina is a desirable biomaterial to use in hard tissue implants because of characteristics like excellent wear resistance, high hardness, bio inert, low abrasion rate and good frictional behaviour. Furthermore, it has excellent surface finish as well as high fatigue streng...
The most common use of biomechanics is in the development of prosthetic limbs used for the handicapped. Most work on prosthetics is done in laboratories where scientists use calibrated machines to test stress and wear of artificial limbs. These days, prosthetics, are made of titanium and lightweight fiberglass to make a near perfect match with most people. The most common prosthesis is the replacement in a below the knee amputation. The American Society of Biomechanics (ASB) held a meeting at Clemson University of 1997 in order to develop a sports prosthesis that would stand up to every day flexing of the knee for performance in sports.
The field of bioprinting, using 3D printing technology for producing live cells with extreme accuracy, could be the answer to many of the problems we as humans face in the medical field. It could be the end to organ waiting lists and an alternative for organ transplants. In 3D printing technology lies the potential to replace the testing of new drugs on animals. However, the idea of applying 3 dimensional printing to the health industry is still quite new and yet to have a major impact. Manufacturing working 3D organs remains an enormous challenge, but in theory could solve major issues present today.
The two controversial topics discussed below share a single goal: to enhance the quality of life of a human individual. The first topic, transhumanism, is a largely theoretical movement that involves the advancement of the human body through scientific augmentations of existing human systems. This includes a wide variety of applications, such as neuropharmacology to enhance the function of the human brain, biomechanical interfaces to allow the human muscles to vastly out-perform their unmodified colleagues, and numerous attempts to greatly extend, perhaps indefinitely, the human lifespan. While transhumanist discussion is predominantly a thinking exercise, it brings up many important ethical dilemmas that may face human society much sooner than the advancements transhumanism desires to bring into reality. The second topic, elective removal of healthy limbs at the request of the patient, carries much more immediate gravity. Sufferers of a mental condition known as Body Integrity Identity Disorder seek to put to rest the disturbing disconnect between their internal body image and their external body composition. This issue is often clouded by sensationalism and controversy in the media, and is therefore rarely discussed in a productive manner (Bridy). This lack of discussion halts progress and potentially limits citizens' rights, as legislation is enacted without sufficient research. The primary arguments against each topic are surprisingly similar; an expansion on both transhumanism and elective amputation follows, along with a discussion of the merit of those arguments. The reader will see how limits placed on both transhumanism and elective amputation cause more harm to whole of human society than good.
With Proof X printing a 3D model of the body part of a patient can help doctors practice the procedure ahead of the operation. With an accurate 3D model, the surgeon can have a better idea of what is going in inside the patient than can be gained by simply looking at a 3D replica model. Proof X has made 3D printing and the medical professions go hand-in-hand, particularly in the planning of complicated procedures. A 3D model prepares surgeons with a hands-on viewpoint, which cannot be achieved by looking at a computer screen or a MRI image. Doctors can simply rotate, examine and analyze each surgical procedure on a case-by-case basis, enabling them to be prepared to work on a
3. Waldrop, S.; Wojciechowski, M. The “bionic” warrior: advances in prosthetics, technology, and rehabilitation. PT Mag Phys Ther. April 2007;15(4): 60-66.
There also have been many safety issues with 3D printing. There is now software available to print firearms from your home, ultimately putting a deadly weapon in whosevers hands. There are many ethical questions brought up by this option with the 3D printer (Cohen, D., Sargeant, M., & Somers, K. (2014). 3-D printing takes shape.McKinsey Quarterly, Jan). While there are problems such as this, there is also the other end of the spectrum. 3D printing has allowed us to create cheap prosthetic limbs custom made for their owners; Or a new fashion statement on the red carpet. 50 years ago, these uses would have been ideas from a science fiction novel (Lipson, H., & Kurman, M. (2013). Everything is becoming science fiction. In Fabricated: The new world of 3D printing. John Wiley and
3D printing machine let you make complex shapes like parts for cars, airplanes and machines using much less material and money than other regular machines. Medical equipment in a quick and cheap way Everybody knows that medical equipment is very expensive. It is estimated that in 2010 Americans spent over 150 billion dollars in medical devices. Using 3D printed splints or other necessary means for healing will save you lots of money.
This leads to a wide range of materials known as the silicones. This group of polymers, which have excellent biocompatibility, have been utilised to develop and manufacture a wide range of biomedical products. These range from simple tubing to complex implants, for example those used to replace diseased finger joints. The versatility of these materials has led to silicone products being employed in almost every medical speciality. Silicones, with their unique material properties, have found widespread application in healthcare.
The 3D printing of biological materials could potentially create an efficient alternative for patients who may be waiting to receive an organ as well as creating a new advancement while facilitating and increasing the success rate of surgeries performed by doctors. Bio-printing is the 3D printing of biological materials such as human organs and tissue by using cells from the individual’s body as well as other materials such as metals, plastic, powders, and liquids to make up an organ that will eventually take the place of the original organ, also known as stereolithography. The process Stereolithography was first seen in 1983, when invented by Charles Hull and several colleagues. The cost of Bio-printers can range from 10,000
Prosthetic limbs, one of the examples of physical enhancement, have improved to such an extent that the capabilities and...