The Basics of Bionics
Why Bionics?
There are many things that you do in a day that just come naturally. For example sending a text message, typing this article, or even picking up a glass of water.
Then suddenly one day you get into an accident and lose a limb that allowed you to do simple habits like these. What options do you have?
That is where bionics can come into play.
What is Bionics?
The study of bionics is a combination of biology (‘bio’) and electronics (‘nics’). In other words, it is studying the nature of a body part’s movement and recreating it through electronics.
Each bionic limb is individually fitted so the prices can range from 5,000 USD to over 100,000 USD. There can be many types that are created for different purposes, and some can even be stronger than human limbs. Bionic limbs can also be produced for several activities such as running, dancing, or even climbing.
There are three main types of bionic limbs: Myoelectric, Osseointegration, and Mind Controlled. Each of these has its pros and cons. Some can be comfortable and lightweight while others can be uncomfortable and heavy. Let’s look into the specific details.
Myoelectric Limbs
These types of limbs are mostly used for the upper body and give individuals a more natural type of look.
How do myoelectric limbs work?
Inside the bionic limb, there are electronic sensors to detect the tiniest amount of muscle, nerve, or electrical movement initiated from what is left of the natural arm. Once it picks up these signals, they are sent to the surface of the limb. The signals are then amplified and travel to the microprocessors. Lastly, the microprocessors use this signal it receives to control and move the bionic limb.
What are some of the downfalls?
These types of limbs are really expensive. They use many intricate parts and complex technology. They are also very heavy since they are powered by a battery and use a motor. Because of the motors and batteries, there is a slight delay in processing the movement action. All the functions of the bionic arm are complex and take place within the prosthetic itself which also makes it heavy.
What are some of the benefits?
It has a more natural look and can do complex tasks. It acts more like a natural appendage by having the right amount of tension for doing activities like catching a ball or picking up a water glass.
Osseointegration
This type of prosthetic limb involves bone to machine contact and is typically created for lower prosthetics. It is also permanent due to the surgery involved.
How does it work?
During the osteointegration surgery, an integrated titanium implant is connected through an opening from the residual limb to the external prosthetic limb.
What are some of the downfalls?
Osseointegration involves surgery and healing time for the residual tissue to grow around the titanium implant. Since there is an opening between the implant and living limb, it needs to be cleaned regularly or an infection can occur.
What are some of the benefits?
Because of the bone contact, it provides great stability and control and does not require any harnesses or straps. This makes it much more comfortable to wear. It also relieves tension or weight on the side where the limb is attached, allowing the wearer to put less pressure on the area near the bionic part.
Mind-Controlled Limbs
Lastly, we have mind-controlled limbs. This type is integrated within tissues including some like the nervous system. These are very advanced and can respond to the central nervous system which allows them to act more like a living limb. This type of limb can be for the upper or lower body.
How does it work?
In this limb, the nerves remaining after amputation are used along with the brain impulses to control the living limb. In the surgery for this, nerves are reattached from the missing limb to the muscle tissue in what's left of the limb attached to the body. This allows for more natural thinking and processing.
The brain impulses are also linked to a computer so that it can tell your bionic limb to follow the instructions that you thought about.
What are some of the benefits?
It has less lag time and processes information at a greater speed. This allows the limb to react faster. This better replicates normal movement and functionality. Some patients have even reported feeling some sensation.
What are some of the drawbacks?
It requires numerous steps over several months. It is still currently being researched and is more in the experimental phase.
Bionic Advantages
Bionic limbs can outperform living limbs in a variety of ways.
Take, for example, Hugh Herr. Both of his legs were amputated after an incident involving frostbite.
He was able to wear bionics to do things like climb vertical ice walls with spiked feet. An ordinary human limb would feel muscle fatigue or soreness when climbing an ice wall, but Hugh never sensed it because of the bionic legs.
Also, when Hugh wore narrow wedged feet he was able to put his foot in tiny cracks where a human foot could never penetrate.
This was so shocking that some of his friends even joked around about how they should cut off their legs to get bionics and climb as Hugh did.
Takeaways
Here are some of the key things that we learned about:
- There are three different types of bionic limbs.
- The three types are myoelectric, osseointegration, and mind-controlled.
- Each limb has its major differences involving how it works and the pros and cons.
- Bionics can outperform human limbs in many ways.
References
- Bionic Limbs, Australian Academy of Science
- Myoelectric prosthetics 101, Ottobock
- Osseointegration: An Overview, Fact Sheet
Shay Pema is a 9th-grade student at Cerritos High School. Feel free to reach out to him at LinkedIn!
