• Question: How have prosthetics changed over the years

    Asked by Turtles4Life to Alejandra, Ana, Daniel, Sophie, Todd, Zach on 10 Mar 2017.
    • Photo: Daniel Morse

      Daniel Morse answered on 10 Mar 2017:

      Just like all technology, our understanding of the design, biocompatibility (if applicable), building and use have all improved.

      The designs nowadays are much more life like in terms of application, movement, every day use, and are generally more robust. We’re making things in the lab with living cells to transplant now too (which could be seen as prosthetic!), and while everything has improved, the concept remains the same – to improve function depending on the prosthesis, and this is still happening.

    • Photo: Todd Burton

      Todd Burton answered on 10 Mar 2017:

      I only know about knee and hip replacements, but they have come a long way since they were first invented!

      Originally they were made from steel which would wear and cause little particles to form and the implant would eventually become loose. SInce then other materials have been used such as really hard plastics called ultra-high-molecular-weight-polyethylene (UHMWPE), which are better than metal on metal joints. Since then ceramics have been used which wear even less and now a hip replacement can last for around 15-20 year!

    • Photo: Alejandra Aranceta

      Alejandra Aranceta answered on 10 Mar 2017:

      Hi Turtles,

      Prosthetic devices have been around us since the Egyptians! but back then, they were only pieces of ‘furniture’ and would only serve the purpose of comesis, only the looks where important. Then, during the cold war (a war in the USA), soldiers had all sort of parts of their body blown and prosthetics started to be more common. Back then, these soldiers needed artificial hands that would still allow them to work, so they were very basic, like hooks that would allow them to pick up a sack of potatoes (for example). As the years progressed and more amputations happened (not only related to war), there was a further need for different prosthetic devices.

      After the hooks, body operated hands were introduced, where amputees would use the counter arm (the arm on the opposite side of the amputated side) to operate the device, or even the foot! Then myoelectric controllers were develop (and are currently still used). These controllers obtain information from our muscles and based on this information instruct the prosthetic hand how to move.

      I think in the next couple of years prosthetics will keep on changing and evolving, and soon, amputees will have an artificial hand properly connected to their body!

    • Photo: Ana Gallego

      Ana Gallego answered on 11 Mar 2017:

      Legs have gone a long way!

      Imagine the typical image of a pirate with a wooden leg, probably tied to the rest of the body with a string or the famous simple hand hook.
      It she from there so probably the 1800 with almost no joints or movement, just pure support.
      It then went to ‘bashed’ (shaped with a hammer) aluminium (great keeping you leg cool, because metals conduct heat very well).

      And now all sort of cools materials such as titanium, carbon fibre, foams, silicone etc. It is very high tech nowadays, using even microprocessors with sensors.

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