Bionic technology and prosthetics have advanced greatly in recent years and have already started two-way communication between prostheses and the brain. The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory has come the furthest to date, developing a modular bionic arm that is controlled by thought and is even more mobile than current prostheses that replace an amputated limb. In addition, it also enables sensory perception.
He was the first to taste the current extreme limits of bionic technology Les Baugh, who lost both arms (up to the shoulders) 40 years ago in an electrical accident. But the path to being able to use them was very painful for Les. Surgeon John Hopkins he had to "wake up" him dead nerves and to assign a different role to those in the chest so that Baugh could later operate on the arms with thoughts. These are attached to a special armor, which recognizes the patterns of muscle activity generated by the awakened nerves. This activity then translates into pulses, which ultimately move the hand.
READ MORE: A bionic arm
The first abutment was made with Baugh's help 3D scans his torso, and they were not satisfied with the result and therefore used the good old technique with the help of plaster. Baugh has been using the hands since June, but in the meantime they have put together a new milestone in bionics, namely he succeeded simultaneous two-handed control hands with the help of thoughts. Admittedly, it took time for him to master the command technique, but today he can handle many tasks with them. Bionic hands namely, it is far from being as easy to use as the usual ones, since the owner has to move the shoulder, then the elbow, then the wrist to move the palm forward with them, and during the process it is necessary to take something at each stage rest.
Researchers say that this is just the beginning and that these are the "early days of the Internet". In 5, 10 years but with the right hand we will be somewhere 1 on 1, they say. And even though it's about prototype, Baugh could keep his hands. It's lucky, because what bad luck it would be if I lost both of them again.
More information:
www.jhuapl.edu
