Prosthetics have been used to replace lost limbs since there have
been limbs to be lost; during this time, peg legs and crutches have
transformed into power suits and robot arms. The prosthetic limb was
once a static, inflexible mockery of what it was replacing. Today,
incredible technology has gone into the science of prosthetics, making
them elegant examples of technology and design that are awe inspiring.
We are much closer to Science Fiction than you probably think. Your jaw
will drop as you take a journey through the past, present, and future of
prosthetic technology.
(Images via Africa Science, robot nine, mentalfloss)
Prosthetic toes made of wood were recently found on an Egyptian mummy
(pictured above), and such ingenuity continues to be required in less
technologically advanced areas of the world. Where a prosthetic limb was
once carved out of wood, they can now be fashioned out of an old
basketball and some sturdy paddles.
(Images via we-make-money-not-art, marvelironman)
No longer just an instrument to help the disabled recover
functionality, some additions provide superior strength and stamina to
the most fit individuals. An external suit can take the pressure off
your limbs while carrying heavy bags, or help remove the stress of
repetitive actions. No matter how they’re used, lurching power suits are
incredibly appealing, as they dance close to the dream of bionic humans
so often found in literature, film, and television.
(Images via boingboing, grinding, handicappedpets, treehugger)
Animals get hurt too, and people are always coming up with innovative
ways to maintain quality of life for their furry friends. A broken leg
used to be a death sentence for a horse, but now even a lost limb can be
taken care of.
(Images via prosthetic limbs, virtualworldlets, nydailynews, geek)
Arguably the most difficult limb to replace is the arm, and by
extension (literally), the hand. With an intricate weave of tendons and
musculature allowing the most minute movements, early attempts to add
functionality involved attaching a hook or wooden arm with the inability
to move. From the revolutionary clasping motion, to the most modern
neurally controlled arm in existence, the DEKA, prosthetics are
progressing in sophistication at an incredible rate.
People who lost legs once had to resign themselves to lives spent
hobbling with crutches; this is no longer the case. The advancement of material
strength and flexibility, and the departure from feet that look like
feet, allow the disabled to run with incredible speed – so much so, that
the paralympic games are investigating whether modern prosthetic legs
provide an unfair advantage.
(Images via mlive, bcgolfnews, rexfoundation, cnet, walkingadspace)
Transportation for the disabled is difficult enough, but advances in
sports technology are allowing people to maintain their hobbies despite
any physical limitations. There are snowboards that hook directly into
your prosthetic and special bikes usable even if you only have one leg.
Innovations are consistently pushing the boundaries of what is and isn’t
possible.
(Images via epitalizacion, science museum, hvmag)
If one were to step back only a scattering of decades, the difference
in prosthetic technology would be astounding. The peg leg of our great
grandparents holds no comparison to the alloy legs of today. Performers
with peg legs used to be notable mostly for their uniqueness, much like a
freak at the circus. Thankfully, society is no longer as close minded.
(Images via iraqnam, mental floss, red-eye, life2heal, listicles)
Mobility has long been the greatest hurdle for those who lose a leg
(or two), but the variety of prosthetics is astounding. Some legs
attempt to fool the eye by looking as realistic as possible, while
others make no attempt to hide their function behind their form.
(Images via free republic, greendiary, science ahead)
Prosthetic hands now provide enough feedback to cradle an egg, and
enough strength to grab and lift almost any object. The means of
manipulation have changed as well – pulleys have been replaced by
connections back to nerves on the body that allow one to control one’s
limb just as they control their originals.
(Images via gizmodo, uwaterloo, artificial limbs, methodist rehab)
Their are over 26 bones in the human foot, and even removing one toe
can cause issues with balance. With the amount of weight and stress
placed each time you step down, and the need for feet to be able to
bounce back without losing all of the energy pushing against the ground,
designing a prosthetic foot is far from simple. Solutions range from
the plodding mannequin foot and peg leg to the mechanically responsive
and pnuematic.
(Images via coated, canadian space program, fast company, spike, gadget)
The future of prosthetics can be an enjoyable exercise in design that
uniquely bridges the gap between the personal and the technological.
The above photos are conceptual, but from what we’ve seen thus far,
don’t seem to be out of reach. These designs will no doubt inspire the look of the next generation of prosthetics.
The prosthetics link the technological and the personal, the
inanimate with the human, in such a unique manner, that it’s the source
of inspiration for a great number of artists. Lumbering man-machines and
extra arms are the dreams of those without missing limbs, while the
beauty and surreal natural of prosthetics are the source of a very
different kind of art.
(Images via Gizmodo, BoingBoing, moolf)
Land animals having prosthetics is interesting, but not unexpected.
Adding a missing limb or a wheel to a turtle or dog can be cute or
inspirational, but adding a fin to a dolphin is just plain stunning.
Wild birds and swimming creatures are not immune to the dangers of
poachers and rogue boats, but fixing them is much more difficult, and
even more amazing.
(Image via American Technology)
The evolution of the prosthetic limb is not far from the hopeful
image above, and there is little doubt that technology and design
inspiration will continue to push the boundaries of what we once thought
possible.
