Health & Wellbeing

Electrodes for prosthetic arm permanently implanted into patient for first time

Electrodes for prosthetic arm permanently implanted into patient for first time
Dr Rickard Brånemark tests the functionality of the world's first muscle and nerve controlled arm prosthesis permanently implanted in an amputee
Dr Rickard Brånemark tests the functionality of the world's first muscle and nerve controlled arm prosthesis permanently implanted in an amputee
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The titanium implant for the Chalmers University prosthesis
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The titanium implant for the Chalmers University prosthesis
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The titanium implant and removable prosthesis
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The titanium implant and removable prosthesis
The Chalmers University prosthesis has been permanently connected to a patient for the first time
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The Chalmers University prosthesis has been permanently connected to a patient for the first time
The Chalmers University prosthesis is thought controlled
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The Chalmers University prosthesis is thought controlled
Nerve impulses from the brain control the Chalmers University prosthesis
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Nerve impulses from the brain control the Chalmers University prosthesis
The Chalmers University prosthesis sends electronic feedback to the nerves
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The Chalmers University prosthesis sends electronic feedback to the nerves
Max Ortiz Catalan demonstrates how the system works with the aid of electrodes
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Max Ortiz Catalan demonstrates how the system works with the aid of electrodes
Dr Rickard Brånemark tests the functionality of the world's first muscle and nerve controlled arm prosthesis permanently implanted in an amputee
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Dr Rickard Brånemark tests the functionality of the world's first muscle and nerve controlled arm prosthesis permanently implanted in an amputee
The titanium implant and removable prosthesis
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The titanium implant and removable prosthesis
View gallery - 11 images

It took some time, but the age of the cyborg is upon us. For the first time, neuromuscular electrodes that enable a prosthetic arm and hand to be controlled by thought have been permanently implanted into the nerves and muscles of an amputee. The operation was carried out recently by a surgical team led by Dr Rickard Brånemark at Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Goteborg, Sweden.

We first covered the Chalmers University artificial arm last November. It goes a step beyond current motorized prostheses as it is intended as a permanent part of the patient’s body. This helps to solve the two main problems of such prostheses: the socket to fit the arm to the patient and the pickups used to control it.

Instead of a tight, uncomfortable socket fitted to the arm stump, the Chalmers University arm is attached to the stump by fusing a titanium socket to the bone itself in a procedure called osseointegration. The skin pickups used in many mechanical arms to provide the user with control by muscle impulses are replaced by electrodes that have been permanently implanted in nerves and muscles, so commands can come directly from the brain to the arm. While the arm itself can be detached, the socket and electrodes are permanent.

The titanium implant and removable prosthesis
The titanium implant and removable prosthesis

Rickard Brånemark of Sahlgrenska University Hospital, who helped develop the implant technology, says this bone-anchored approach, "allows complete degree of motion for the patient, fewer skin related problems and a more natural feeling that the prosthesis is part of the body. Overall, it brings better quality of life to people who are amputees.

According to Brånemark, the implants provide more functionality because they allow more signals to be retrieved than is possible with electrodes placed over the skin. They also have the potential to send signals back to the brain and give the patient a sense of "feeling."

“We believe that implanted electrodes, together with a long-term stable human-machine interface provided by the osseointegrated implant, is a breakthrough that will pave the way for a new era in limb replacement,” said Brånemark.

Nerve impulses from the brain control the Chalmers University prosthesis
Nerve impulses from the brain control the Chalmers University prosthesis

The first patient, who has not been named, had the arm recently – for want of a better word – installed and, according to Chalmers University, the first test results have been “excellent.” The patient said that the arm works with almost no effort in generating control signals, that more movements can be performed than with the patient's previous robotic hand, and that several movements can be carried out at once.

As to the future, Brånemark said, “the next step will be to test electrical stimulation of nerves to see if the patient can sense environmental stimuli, that is, get an artificial sensation. The ultimate goal is to make a more natural way to replace a lost limb, to improve the quality of life for people with amputations.”

Source: Chalmers University of Technology

View gallery - 11 images
6 comments
6 comments
Slowburn
I worry about the potential for infections with the skin penetrated like that but if they can control that this looks real good.
Brooks Hubbard
Here it is folks, another 10 to 15 years and we'll see fully controllable artificial prosthesis like Anakin Skywalker's artificial hand. Hopefully, society and make it to that time.......
warren52nz
It seems to me that stem cell research will solve the regeneration of limbs problem before too long and make this sort of thing unnecessary. If we can stop the resistance of the religious right to this research that is.
Oztechi
I like the idea of having a plug-and-play upgradable limb if you are in need of an artificial limb. Just unscrew the old one and put on the new model when it comes out (and if you can afford it).
I hope they match the arm length and shape with the patients other arm, (assuming they have not lost both of them) otherwise they will look lop-sided and really obviously unnatural.
valerie
Would this be possible if you were born with one arm?
Slowburn
re; warren52nz
The research on adult stem cells that has produced actual treatments is a result of the protests against fetal stem cell harvesting.