News

Partnership Aims To Spur Software Development For Robotic Legs
January 11th 2022
The open-source, artificially intelligent prosthetic leg designed by researchers at the University of Michigan will be brought to the research market by Humotech, a Pittsburgh-based assistive technology company. The goal of the collaboration is to speed the development of control software for robotic prosthetic legs, which have the potential to provide…

Prosthetic Hand Allows Amputees To Feel Sensations
December 21st 2021
Amputees depend on prosthetics to help with daily tasks, but even simple things can be difficult when the sense of touch is gone. As 7’s Kevin Ozebek tells us, South Florida researchers are developing “Helping Hands” that could change amputees’ lives for the better. He has competed in more than 250…

Veteran Amputee Creates Retreat To Help Others
December 7th 2021
Country legend John Rich held a concert in Lorain on Wednesday to benefit the Travis Mills Foundation, a nonprofit that supports post-9/11 veterans at a retreat in Maine. The organization help veterans overcome physical and emotional scars — veterans like U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Travis Mills who completed three tours of…

Newest Prostheses Create Sense Of Touch
November 15th 2021
Since World War II, VA has worked to improve prosthetics for Veterans who have suffered limb loss. VA has been a leader in prosthetics, establishing the first VA prosthetic testing and development lab in New York in 1947, standing up 30 multi-disciplinary amputee clinics set up across the country in 1948, and debuting the…

Magnetomicrometry Can Help Control Prosthetic Limbs
November 9th 2021
Name of study: Magnetomicrometry can provide fast and accurate muscle measurements
By who and where: MIT Media Lab, USA
What does it say?
1) An alternative approach called magnetomicrometry (MM) uses magnets for better control of prosthetic limbs.
2) After inserting small magnetic beads into muscle tissue, practitioners can accurately measure the length…

N.J. Veteran Provides Active Inspiration For Amputee
October 26th 2021
At first, the bad news hit Patrick Terry hard: His right leg would have to be amputated below the knee due to an infection. “I cried for about half an hour that day, sobbing,” he said. Then he remembered something a mentor taught him: the Serenity Prayer.
“God, grant me the serenity…

Bird Creates His Own Prosthetic Beak
October 13th 2021
When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade… unless you’re Bruce the parrot. Then you make your own prosthetic beak! Willowbank Wildlife Reserve in New Zealand rescued Bruce when he was just a baby. He was already missing his upper beak, something they believe happened when he was caught in a…

Quadruple Amputee Finishes Race With New Prostheses
September 21st 2021
As Gary Miracle crossed the finish line of the Tailgate 2-Miler on Sunday morning, the look of pain on his face was evident. So was the look of determination followed by relief.
Tears streamed down his face as dozens of people cheered, hugged him, took photos and marveled at what he…

Paralympian Receives Adaptable Prosthetic Arm
September 7th 2021
As Scots Paralympic swimmer Toni Shaw takes to the pool in Tokyo next week, as well as her family and friends, one woman in particular will be watching with pride.
The dedicated teenager has been able to fulfil a long held dream of competing for ParalympicsGB thanks in part to…

Liquid Metal Sensors Allow Prosthetic Hands To "Feel"
August 31st 2021
Each fingertip has more than 3,000 touch receptors, which largely respond to pressure. Humans rely heavily on sensation in their fingertips when manipulating an object. The lack of this sensation presents a unique challenge for individuals with upper limb amputations. While there are several high-tech, dexterous prosthetics available today –…