Sony SRX 611--Used for production of Ericsson mobile phones

     The Scott Sabolich Center is a leading world-wide prosthetics center located in Oklahoma City, and is one of the first prosthetic centers to research the use of robotics with prosthetics.  In a field trip interview conducted with the Sabolich Center, we learned that they developed a prosthetic arm that could detect hot and cold through temperature sensors. These sensors then heated the amputee's limb so that he/she could avoid burning their prostheses (Sabolich, 2003).

     Today robotic prosthetics help amputees accomplish feats unheard of merely years before. In our interview (Sabolich, 2003), we also heard a story about a man who was trapped in one of the world trade center buildings above the 40th story when it was hit.  Wearing a normal lock and pop prosthetic, it takes an amputee twice as long to perform special operations such as going down stairs.  Fortunately, this man had recently been fitted with a robotic prosthetic that can sense when its wearer is trying to perform special operations, such as going down stairs.  This  robotic bendable prosthetic enabled him to move down the stairs effortlessly and quickly so that he could reach safety before the building collapsed.    

     Until recently, artificial leg wearers had to kick their lower prostheses out so that it could support their weight as they took a step. Now robotic hydraulic prostheses can far better control the movement of an artificial leg. The shin mechanism in a prosthetic leg attachment connects to the real human upper leg.  Through a connection between the artificial shin and foot, which has pressure sensors and time sensors to gauge when the leg needs to change position in mid step to compensate for forward motion and changing terrain levels, the amputee is able to walk (Sabolich, 2003).

     Another example of robotic advancement in prosthetics involves research on a bot named Handy 1.  This robot can assist people who have little or no hand mobility with the basic human operations, such as eating, drinking, washing, and shaving (Rehab Robotics, 2003).  The robot can be used to assist those with prosthetic arms, since hand functionality is not currently the same as a real human hand.

Nanotechnology

     Nanotechnology is currently the most advanced theoretical technology in the world. Still in its infancy, most practical uses of nanotechnology have not actually been invented yet. However, scientists believe submolecular nanobots will soon be produced that can rearrange the atoms of most compounds. The most impressive aspect of nanomachines is that they could manufacture themselves and "reproduce" at an alarming rate. Nanomachines are the future in many fields of medicine as they will be able to augment the natural molecular machinery in our bodies, "so that we would never get sick" (Colorado Futurescience, 2002).

Assistive Nanotechnology

     Nanobots are also a possibility in the future of prosthetics. Scientists are currently working on a model of nanobots that could react to neurons in a human arm so that the prosthesis would receive commands to move instantaneously.   In theory, nanobots could give someone the ability to have a prosthetic limb that is 99% as functional as their own limb was (Merkle, 2003).  However, until the field of nanotechnology is out of the theoretical stages, nothing can be done.