Brain-controlled prosthetic arm developed
April 3rd, 2011 - 2:25 pm ICT by ANIWashington, April 03 (ANI): Two Ryerson University undergraduate biomedical engineering students have developed prosthetic arm that is controlled by brain signals.
The Artificial Muscle-Operated (AMO) Arm not only enables amputees more range of movement as compared to other prosthetic arms but it allows amputees to avoid invasive surgeries and could potentially save hundreds of thousands of dollars. The AMO Arm is controlled by the user’s brain signals and is powered by ‘artificial muscles’ - simple pneumatic pumps and valves - to create movements. In contrast, traditional prosthetic limbs - which typically offer more limited movements - rely on intricate and expensive electrical and mechanical components.
Developed by third-year student Thiago Caires and second-year student Michal Prywata, the AMO Arm is controlled by the brain and uses compressed air as the main source of power. The digital device makes use of signals in the brain that continue to fire even after a limb is amputated.
Users wear a head-set that senses a signal - for example, the thought “up” - and sends it wirelessly to a miniature computer in the arm. The computer then compares the signal to others in a database. The resulting information is sent to the pneumatic system, which in turn, activates the arm to create the correct movement. Simulating the expansion and contraction of real muscles, the system makes use of compressed air from a small, refillable tank in the user’s pocket. The artificial muscle system created by Caires and Prywata is a first in the field of prosthetics and they continue to work on perfecting their system.
Since the device does not include microelectronics and motors, it costs one-quarter of other functional prosthetic arms, which can run users more than 80,000 dollars, depending on the complexity of the prosthesis. As the AMO Arm is non-invasive, the period of adjustment for new users is drastically decreased. While traditional prosthetics may require weeks of learning and training, basic function with the AMO Arm can be mastered in mere minutes.
“In just ten minutes of practising, a person can pick up the mind-control aspect of the technology,” added Prywata. (ANI)
- Now, high-tech prosthetic arms that can be controlled with thoughts! - Feb 04, 2011
- Bionic arm that relies on mind power to work - Feb 13, 2011
- Controlling computers with simple eye movements - Jul 13, 2012
- A bionic leg which responds to muscular signals - Apr 21, 2011
- Bio-engineered nerve-muscle connection to improve prosthetic hands - Oct 15, 2009
- New brain computer interface for spinal cord injury patients introduced - Feb 18, 2011
- British soldier fitted with new Bionic Arm - Feb 21, 2011
- Brain chip may help paralysed patients move bionic limbs - Jul 05, 2010
- New artificial foot recycles energy for easy walking - Feb 17, 2010
- Illusion of three hands can help stroke patients - Feb 24, 2011
- Brit scientists unveil bionic hand - May 12, 2010
- Artificial foot that recycles energy offers hope for amputees - Feb 17, 2010
- Now, an iPhone app that can read minds! - Jan 14, 2011
- Novel surgical technique improves artificial arms function - Feb 11, 2009
- Bionic implants melding man and machine - Nov 08, 2010
Tags: artificial muscle, artificial muscles, biomedical engineering, caires, engineering students, expansion and contraction, invasive surgeries, main source, mechanical components, michal, microelectronics, miniature computer, muscle system, pneumatic pumps, pneumatic system, prosthesis, prosthetic arms, prosthetic limbs, prosthetics, ryerson university