Prosthetic limbs are designed to assist amputees in leading normal lives following an accident or condition that caused them to lose an important part of their body. Unfortunately, installing an artificial limb sometimes only adds to the burden of becoming an amputee for very unfortunate reasons: they are expensive, non-inclusive, and bothersome.
Created Using Cutting-Edge Space Tech
Ironically, despite being designed with disabled users in mind, most prosthetic users are unable to achieve the optimum result and feel of an artificial limb built for them. This statement about how amputees cannot truly be comfortable with wearable technology is taken from an NBC News think piece.
In order to address the issue, scientists from the India Space Research Station (ISRO) created a wearable technology to help amputees maintain a comfortable gait. This prosthetic limb was created using cutting-edge space technology.
This information was first reported in an article by India Today. This artificial limb, according to the report, is intended to assist amputees in maintaining a normal walking rhythm. Most artificial limbs on the market today are focused on balance and dimensions. This new advancement is likely to be one of the most significant updates to wearable technology to date.
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The recently announced smart technology is known as Microprocessor-Controlled Knees (MPKs). It includes microprocessors that allow users to walk for up to 100 meters without external assistance. This is a significant technological advancement because it will allow amputees, particularly those who have suffered shock, to recover as quickly as possible.
This is made possible by the lightweight characteristics of the previously mentioned prosthetic limb. The Microprocessor-Controlled Knees are only 1.6 kilograms in weight. This makes the above said wearable technology simple to use and comfortable for many users.
MPKs are Cheaper than Most Artificial Limbs
A feature article in Teen Vogue claims that most amputees who rely on the American healthcare system do not receive any meaningful accommodations. Prosthetic arms and legs typically cost more than $60,000 unless they are extremely basic.
The cost of limbs and spare parts is only partially covered by insurance, and they require replacement parts every year, which can cost thousands more. This is a sobering reality for the majority of amputees, especially those who live in developing countries.
Based on the same India Times report, the MPK is expected to be ten times less expensive than most bionic limbs currently on the market. This makes previously expensive technology available to a larger population, particularly those from impoverished areas.
Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Isro, is developing these smart MPKs in collaboration with the National Institute for Locomotor Disabilities (NILD), Pt. The Deendayal Upadhyaya National Institute for Persons with Physical Disabilities and the Artificial Limb Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO). The wearable technology is expected to enter commercial production in the near future.
NPR reported in June that a team of researchers from the University of Pittsburgh is working on developing a prosthetic arm that will assist amputees in regaining sensory feedback from a body part. This device can help amputees recover from the trauma and pain of losing a limb.
