References

References.


Websites:

http://www.biom.com/media-center/faq/

https://www.ted.com/talks/hugh_herr_the_new_bionics_that_let_us_run_climb_and_dance

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/bionic-arm-researchers-aim-for-50k-to-60k-price-product-release-in-a-couple-of-years/

http://www.sciencedirect.com.libproxy.boisestate.edu/science/article/pii/S0966636213001987

Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDsNZJTWw0w


Pictures:

http://www.srtprosthetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/biom-1-npc-web.jpg
http://trademarks.justia.com/media/image.php?serial=85873536
http://www.wired.com/images_blogs/underwire/2013/08/Matt-Damon-in-Exo-Suit.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4151/4955483809_aa6ea6a7bc_b.jpg
http://www.scriptol.com/robotics/images/bionic-propulsion.jpg
http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/resources/images/2689315/
http://www.wired.com/images_blogs/design/2013/10/leg1.jpg
http://tedconfblog.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/adrianne-3.jpg?w=900&h=599
http://mp1st.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/HammerWeek_exclusive_v01.jpg
http://img1.ali213.net/picfile/News/2014/08/12/am/20140812114143651.png
http://www.hardcoregamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Call-of-Duty-Advanced-Warfare_Review_Utopia.jpg
http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/536/5360430/2555151-cod+aw_induction_seoul+survivor.jpg
http://www.callofduty.com/content/dam/atvi/callofduty/advanced/media/Customization.jpg
http://www.biom.com/assets/13273985994_8cfe754d1c_b.jpg

Impact in Society

Has society already predicted how future prosthetics and their technology will affect the world?


     When a new technology is introduced in society, the person holding the reigns will almost always have good intentions and at first, seem to have a positive effect on society.  What if this technology switches its course and becomes an egotistical use of power and wealth?  Will a whole new form of bionic war be the outcome of these good intentions and instead of hoping for a brighter future, only create a destructive, more chaotic planet?  It would be hard to imagine worse 

seeing the damage we have already done to Earth, but I'm sure it could be much worse.  The media has definitely played devil's advocate by becoming rich off of movies, TV shows, video games, etc. that involve machines, bionics, and its effect on the world.  People love this stuff and can not get enough of it.  Although, if and when our society does reach that point and our lives appear to be immersed with robotics and bionics, how will our society truly react?  Will they fear anything that is not flesh and bone, or will they welcome this new bionic age and join in the advancement?  Those who lean towards the negative side, stop watching Terminator and playing Call of Duty Advanced Warfare, because I am going to explain the positives of bionic limbs.

 

























I know that every single person on this earth has seen a disabled man or woman struggling to get through the day because of their damaged leg or arm.  I myself become so frustrated when I see someone rolling around in their wheelchair, why is it taking so long for us to find a solution to the big, uncomfortable, and tricky contraption which the wheelchair is based upon?  Every other month, a new phone comes out displaying new

features that will hurt our face to face communication skills even more, but a middle aged amputee can not even leave the house unless he rolls around in his outdated, clunky wheelie.  We need to set our priorities straight and stress the things that matter most in society.  I wonder how much better our planet could be if everyone could stand proud to face it.  Think of all the ideas that may come to light by the brains of those who have a newfound confidence while walking in their bionic legs or using their bionic arms.  Maybe there is a brilliant mind right now clouded by depression and frustration with their disability who could one day solve the energy crisis or find a cure for cancer, who knows?  This is the future that Hugh Herr sees and dreams and the real reason he works so hard to make his dream come true every single day.   

I would be lying though if I said I was not a little concerned about Herr selling these to the wounded soldiers after loss of limb in battle, will the military attempt to use this technology to increase the power and strength of their soldiers?  Maybe I have been playing too much Call of Duty Advanced Warfare.  Before I start to give those who worry about everything too much fuel, I will revert back to looking at the glass half full. 

How great would it be to give a soldier the ability to walk or use both his or her arms again so they can provide for their family once more and continue to serve their country which they have sworn to protect.  The pride and honor of being a soldier will be maintained thanks to the advancement of prosthetic limbs.  I have always felt that in order for change to happen in society, we have to have faith in each other that we will do what is best for us as human beings.  If we choose to live in fear and do not take risks, there is a guarantee that our world will never improve.  However, if we take a chance on humanity and become rewarded with a prosperous and promising future, then we will look back and smile at those who took a leap of faith.

 

 

 

    







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Q and A

You've got questions, I've got answers.

This Q and A is specifically for the BiOM T2 system, made by Hugh Herr and his company, BiOM Personal Bionics.






Question 1.  What is personal bionics?

Answer: Personal bionics emulates a certain individual's muscle and tendon function through bionic propulsion technology.  Those who are amputees can use this device specifically for ankles controlling ankle stiffness and power during the phase of walking, which allows natural muscle function and improving mobility.  Bionic propulsion relieves stress on the joints, reducing aches, pains which the traditional prosthetic normally causes.

Question 2. What are the benefits of the BiOM T2 system?

Answer: The benefits are that you can walk with a more natural gait, no other commercially available ankle-foot prosthetic gives the ability to function like a human ankle-foot during level-ground walking.  The BiOM T2 also reduced musculoskeletal stress which is believed to be the leading cause of osteoarthritis, how so? Well, the BiOM T2 lowers the impact force on the unaffected leg which provides normal levels of powered plantar flexion and has the ability to lower the chance of osteoarthritis.  Third, when you walk with the BiOM T2, it uses less energy.  It is the only ankle-foot device that actually requires less metabolic energy than a non amputee.  You can even increase your preferred walking speed unlike non amputees.  Lastly, you can navigate uneven terrain using less effort and with even more speed.

Question 3. Who can wear the BiOM T2 System?

Answer: The BiOM T2 is made for transtibial, transfemoral, or bilateral amputees, and weigh no more than 250 pounds.

Question 4.  Can the BiOM T2 System be adjusted to fit one's standards?

Answer: Yes, the BiOM T2 has Personal Bionic Tuning to make adjustments to the gait cycle and the person's preferred level within reason.  There is app by Android which a BiOM Certified Healthcare Professional will make the adjustments for the person.

Question 5. What is the weight, height, and capacity of the BiOM T2 System?

Answer: The BiOM T2 foot module and cover weighs 5.1 lbs. (2.3 kg), and the ankle will match that weight or weigh even less.  The build height is 8 5/8".  In one charge the BiOM T2 System can travel around 1,500-2,000 strides but it varies based on the person's speed, activities, and weight, typically a 4-6 hour battery life.  It takes 45 minutes for a full charge after a normal depletion.

Question 6. What is the average lifespan of the BiOM System?

Answer: Its intended lifespan battery is designed for 3-5 years of normal use, or 5 million gait cycles by a 250 lb. person.  There is a 36 month US warranty, the BiOM T2 charger covers a 24 month warranty and their batteries have a 12 month warranty

 

Baby Steps

One small step for man...

     Before a new product or design makes its way into society, it needs to have all the glitches worked out and tested for any necessary improvements.  Hugh Herr and his BiOM T2 System has the potential to be the groundbreaking prosthetic, improving millions of amputees' lives.  Until that day comes, Hugh Herr is working hard to make his product ready and accessible to everyone.  Obviously technology this advanced will not come cheap, and right now there are some insurances that fail to cover Herr's' bionic legs.  Nothing will stop Hugh Herr from improving as many lives as possible, and just from watching him during his presentation on the TED Talk, I believe he has enough drive and passion to make his dream a reality.  

Herr declared that he is currently speaking with insurance companies in order to reach an agreement that will help make his prosthetic affordable for those who truly need it.  There could not be a better face of bionics than an amputee who refuses to live with limitations.  In fact, a women named Adrianne Haslet-Davis was a very talented dancer, but lost her left leg in the Boston marathon terrorist attack. Herr
made it his mission to get her back on the dance floor.  Herr states, “It was 3.5 seconds between the bomb blasts in the Boston terrorist attack.  In 3.5 seconds, the criminals and cowards took Adrianne off the dance floor.  In 200 days we put her back, we will not be intimidated, brought down, diminished, conquered or stopped by acts of violence” (Herr).  If Herr was running for president, I would certainly vote for him. It is so refreshing to see a person so dedicated and so driven to make a difference in the world, and is actually walking the walk, literally.  He knows what its like to be disabled, which is why I believe he will actually do the impossible and in the future, everyone will be walking on their human or bionic feet.  Obviously there is still work to be done, since it took 200 days for Herr and his MIT team to design a bionic leg for one single person, but just the thought that one day we will have bionic limbs specifically designed for our personal activities is crazy to think about. 

According to BiOM Personal Bionics, in order to get a personal customized prosthetic you have to dish out quite a bit of money, try $50,000.  Its almost like you are buying a really nice car, except you don't have to park it anywhere, which means no tickets, and you will use it every single day for the rest of your life. Right now, without the insurance companies covering Herr's bionic leg, not many amputees can afford this upgrade they desperately need.  In fact, amputees most likely live with their family or their spouse has to support them, because it difficult for them to work or land a job.  Now these BiOM T2 legs do run on a battery of course, giving the wearer 4-6 hours of usage, however it only takes 45 minutes to fully charge the leg after a full depletion of the battery, not bad.  I definitely wouldn't recommend running a marathon unless you know you can finish under 6 hours, good for you if you can. Still, for example, after taking a jog and meeting a friend for lunch, someone could go back home, charge their leg, while eating lunch, 45 minutes later, you're ready to do more.  At work, when the amputee is taking their lunch break, they could charge their bionic leg and finish the rest of their work day without any trouble.  Of course, there are still some things you can not do with these legs such as getting them wet, especially if you want to go swimming, make sure you are not wearing your expensive car around the water.

Slowly but surely, we will see bionic limbs worn by amputees of all ages, walking proudly with every step.  There are currently 100 amputees and 400 soldiers fitted with the BiOM T2 System.  That is 500 more lives that have been changed for the better by the hard work and determination of Hugh Herr.   What I hope to never see is people amputating their perfectly functioning limbs just so they can say they are "bionic man" and stand out from regular people.  We are all special in our own way, we do not need any bigger egos than we already have in our brains.  The only purpose of Herr's and many other's bionic limbs is to improve the lives of amputees who are struggling to live their life of limitation and disability.  Respect the technology and do not make these brilliant minds regret what they have created.

 

 

The Upgrade

Prosthetics have made their upgrade.

     One of the most important parts of an invention is the technology it originates from.  There are many different designs with bionic limbs, but the one I believe is the most promising and substantial to society is Hugh Herr's bionic propulsion.  Yes, his ingenious technology took me about five to ten times to fully comprehend how it works, regardless, it is where no other prosthetic has gone before.  After Herr lost both of his legs to frostbite in a rock climbing accident, he demonstrates his credibility and determination as he rock climbs with his own creation, The BiOM T2, and stays as active as any non amputee every single day.  The courage it takes for Herr to get back up on his feet and continue doing what he loves after facing such a traumatic experience is unbelievable.  The advancement of prosthetic limbs is exceeding expectations, thanks to this man's determination. 

The problems with the previous prosthetics were they lacked comfort and mobility.  Whether it was made out of plastic or some other kind of material, the amputee would face as much trouble as if they did not wear the prosthetic at all.  Second, it would cause the wearer to tire more quickly, walk more slowly, and even risk facing health problems farther down the road.  Mobility and comfort go hand in hand and Herr understood that you need to have both in order to create the perfect prosthetic.  From his company BiOM Personal Bionics, they acknowledge, “The BiOM emulates a natural gait by providing bionic propulsion to assist the user’s mobility.  Bionic propulsion actually drives the user, providing the energy to climb stairs and walk up hills.  The technology of bionic Propulsion also includes stiffness modulation, which is the progressive hardening of the ankle movement to naturally decelerate the body in a manner and speed equivalent to a healthy ankle” (BiOM Personal Bionics).  Basically BiOM is explaining that when someone needs the prosthetic to be soft, it remains soft, and when they need it to be as stiff as a board, it becomes stiff.  Bionic propulsion opens many doors when it comes to the use of its technology but for right now,  anyone reading this will probably have their doubts about the advancement of the prosthetic limb until they see some actual concrete studies and results.  Well, without further ado, here you go.

 

According to Science Direct, a study was done between a common carbon foot prosthetic to a bionic foot, (Proprio-Foot) comparing the energy cost of each while walking.  Anna Delussu and other scientists tested ten transtibial amputees (TTAs) and had them walk on a treadmill at different speeds.  They concluded, “Ten TTAs completed the measurements. ECW with the Proprio-Foot obtained in the final floor-walking test was significantly lower than ECW with the DCF.  No significant improvements were observed for perceived mobility or walking ability” (Delussu).  That should feed your hunger for a moment.  Already our prosthetic has evolved leading to the energy cost of walking reduced.  Progress is progress ladies and gentleman.  I almost left off the last part about studying the mobility and walking ability, but if you watched the TED Talks video on the home page, the wearer was amazed at their maneuvering ability compared to the traditional prosthetic. Seeing someone who was once crippled wearing these bionic legs and can now move around their house with ease and do more than they ever could, that is all the proof I need.

When I look at these designs such as Hugh Herr and Michael McLoughlin, I laugh because it seems we only see these advancements in movies and video games.  Like it or not, this is what the age of technology brings us, something new and full of potential. Michael McLoughlin, the head designer of the bionic arm at Johns Hopkins and Courtney Moran, who works with their patients at Johns Hopkins, have not only created comfort and mobility, but these bionic arms act as if it was one’s own real arm.  According to CBS News  Moran reports, “It takes a while to learn how to do functional tasks because it takes practice… it’s not like practicing with the other prosthetics they have because it feels immediately like they’re practicing with their own arm instead, because you can move- all the fingers move, all the joints move, the wrists move” (Moran).  Could you imagine trying to move your prosthetic arm for the first time after facing reality that you will never have that ability?  I wish I could be in the room seeing their patients' faces light up as they reach for an object and hold it in their bionic hand.  It truly is remarkable. And I'm sure it won't take long for the wearer to understand its all the bells and whistles he or she can contribute to society once more.  If I was given a bionic arm, I know I would spend every day practicing with it and make sure I would be able to perform the same tasks on my real arm and my new bionic arm.  The attention and social effect I would get alone would have a huge impact on my life. Imagine how easy it would be to get a girlfriend or boyfriend when you can actually hug someone or hold someone in your arms, both real and bionic.  If I was told there is a bionic arm that could allow met to function like a normal human arm, I would be like a kid in a candy store.  McLoughlin’s design feels as if someone is actually practicing movement with their very own arm, until now no other prosthetic has achieved this feat.  Through this advancement, previous prosthetics will slowly become storage as this new technology exposes them for their immobility and comfort.  I almost feel like we are in the movie iRobot and all the traditional, outdated machines are replaced by new shiny more advanced robots.  Luckily, we are not leading ourselves into a war, humans versus machines and Will Smith has to stop the machines from taking over the world.  We are only introducing parts of a machine, not the entire body, that is whole other issue and for another generation to blog about. 


Now if you watched the TED Talks video from the home page, you heard about more than just prosthetics, he was talking about going even farther.  Exo-suits, clothing that fits synthetically to our skin, knee and ankle braces to wear to improve your maneuverability and reduce pain when you are staying active.  These are all things which Hugh Herr will bring to the future, but I want to focus on the first advancement, the bionic leg and arm, because I believe it is the first piece that will lead to a brighter future.

Home

How close are we to seeing bionic limbs
in society today?



     Whenever I see someone rolling around in their wheelchair deprived the of their mobility, I can think of only one word, disappointment.  With the world is becoming more and more mechanical and tech-savvy, how have we not been able to help upgrade our fellow amputees with something a little more 2014?  Well hold on to your hats, because we are rushing full speed ahead toward the future of prosthetics.  Innovators such as Hugh Herr and Michael McLaughlin lead the charge with their brilliant designs of prosthetics that will reshape the lives of amputees.

First, a little background on me and why I am so interested about the future of prosthetics.  I am a very active person who will do almost anything, from sports such as basketball and tennis, to hiking and rock climbing.  I thought I was invincible until this last summer when I tore my meniscus playing basketball.  Recovering from my injury was so frustrating, because I couldn't stand to see my brother or anyone leave the house and be active.  While I was cooped up in my room, I started to think about the future and how one day we will have bionic arms and legs to keep us active and recover from injury.  I somehow found this TED Talks video which I have posted above, where Hugh Herr explains his efforts and how he believes the future will involve his new bionic leg design along with many other bionic products such as an exo suit and clothing that will feel soft in areas needed and firm in others to provide perfect comfort and mobility.  After watching this video I was amazed at what the future could hold and a part of me wishes we had that technology today so I could be back out on the court, but unfortunately I'm a couple decades short.  The only thing I can do to heal my knee is sleep and restrain myself from heli-skiing.


United States soldiers risk their lives every day to protect us and our country while facing possible amputation frequently in their life-threatening job.  Imagine a regular army soldier struggling to continue living a normal life after losing both his legs after stepping on a mine underneath the ground.  He has a wife and kids who need a fully functional father to help support them, but he can barely even support himself.  Now imagine this same soldier standing proudly on his bionic legs, going back to work, still defending his country with honor and knowing that he is able to support his family once more.  Not only will these bionic limbs help the wearer function as if he or she had their original limbs, but it will provide a more comfortable experience than any carbon fiber prosthetic.  Still, I can not see why some people with a slight discomfort in the arm or leg such as arthritis, may replace their dysfunctional limb to join the bionic revolution, but that is their life and their own questionable choices.  I try really hard not to use the phrase, "Yolo" but I feel like it really sums up how these people want to live. 

 As everyone knows, nothing is free in this world.  These bionic limbs don't come cheap and some insurance plans fail to cover the cost of the prosthetic as of today.  They do also run on a battery so do not think that just because you are wearing a bionic limb that you simply turn into bionic man or woman and can run for days and nothing can stop you, keep dreaming.  remember baby steps.  Now I'm sure a lot of you reading this might ask yourselves, how will these bionic limbs impact society?  Will they have a positive of negative effect on the world?  Technology and creations always have great intentions to improve the lives it touches and bionics generally could eradicate the world of amputees in wheelchairs, but will that good intention stick around in the future?  Or will the people who hold the reigns of this creation steer its direction toward power and destruction?  It is easy for me to imagine our future turning into some action packed mechanical war movie, humans versus the machines, and the fault of this nightmare being the technology of bionics, but if it does, I'll make sure to bring the popcorn.