Combat Wound Induced Prosthetics

Ryan Dolan

Casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan• Over 50,000 soldiers wounded• 16,000 of these have been severe, disabling wounds• Including over 1500 soldiers who underwent an amputation

Main Cause: Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs)

4 Main Types of Prosthetics• Transradial: Amputation

below the elbow• Transhumeral: Amputation

above the elbow• Transtibial: Amputation

below the knee• Transfemoral: Amputation

above the knee

Components of Artificial LimbsThe Pylon: The internal frame or skeleton of the limb

The Socket: Interface with the stump or residual limb

Suspension System: Keeps the limb attached to the body

Myoelectric Prosthetics:•Use sensors attached to the prosthetic to interpret muscle, nerve, and EMG activity•Translates these signals into information that the motors and circuits of the prosthetic can understand•Mainly found in upper extremity prosthetics

Glucose Powered Fuel Cells

• Generates electricity from the glucose present in cerebrospinal fluid

• Cerebrospinal fluid can be found in both the spine and the brain

• Can power implants that interpret brain activity, and as a result can be used to send signals to prosthetic limbs

Jan Scheuermann•Paralyzed from the neck down•MIT created a prosthetic limb that is controlled by Jan’s thoughts•First working example of mind-controlled prosthetics•The arm is called Hector, and it has the potential to change the world of prosthetics as we know it

Major Robert Eldridge2nd Batt, 7th SFG

•Lead vehicle struck by anti-tank mine, which caused his left leg to be amputated upon arrival at the hospital•Spent 6 months at Walter Reed hospital recovering from his injuries•Along with help from other special forces soldiers, and his prosthetic leg, MAJ Eldridge returned to active duty and was conducting combat operations only 3 years after his injury

References• http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/07/iraq-afghanis

tan-amputees_n_2089911.html• http://www.militarytimes.com/blogs/broadside/2010/03/0

4/the-definition-of-tough-major-robert-eldridge/• http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/130923-mit-

creates-glucose-fuel-cell-to-power-implanted-brain-computer-interfaces

• http://www.disabled-world.com/assistivedevices/prostheses/

• http://science.howstuffworks.com/prosthetic-limb2.htm• http://www.myoelectricprosthetics.com/• http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2012/12/18/

paralyzed-mom-controls-robotic-arm-using-her-thoughts/