Bionic limbs
Bionic limbs are artificial limbs that use electronics and robotics to mimic the function of natural limbs, often including movement and a sense of touch. They are designed to restore the functionality of the missing limb, helping amputees regain independence and improve their quality of life. The development of bionic limbs is a multidisciplinary field involving robotics, biomechanics, neuroscience, and more.
Types of Bionic Limbs:
Prosthetic Arms: They can range from simple robotic arms to sophisticated ones that allow individual finger movement and even sensation.
Prosthetic Legs: These include below-knee and above-knee variants, with some advanced models offering realistic gait patterns and adaptive responses to terrain.
Bionic Hands: Advanced prosthetics capable of delicate tasks, often with individual finger movement.
Exoskeletons: Designed not just for amputees but also for individuals with paralysis, they are wearable devices that allow limb movement.
Companies Making Bionic Limbs:
Össur: A global leader in non-invasive orthopedics, including bionic technology for lower limb prosthetics.
Ottobock: A German company known for its medical technology, especially prosthetic limbs and bionic solutions.
Touch Bionics (by Össur): Specializes in upper limb bionic technologies, including lifelike prosthetic hands.
ReWalk Robotics: Known for its exoskeletons that provide powered hip and knee motion to enable individuals with spinal cord injuries to stand upright, walk, and climb.
Advanced Arm Dynamics: Focuses on upper extremity prosthetics, providing solutions from simple to highly complex systems.
These companies are continuously innovating, improving the technology behind bionic limbs to make them more accessible, functional, and natural-feeling for the users. As technology progresses, bionic limbs are expected to become even more integrated, potentially using neural interfaces for control and feedback, enhancing the user's experience and capabilities.