Bionic prostheses: what are they capable of, and when will we become cyborgs?

More than 1 million amputations are performed worldwide every year. There are more than 185 thousand in the USA, more than 70 thousand in Russia. The main causes are diabetes and injuries, but there are also those who have no limbs from birth.

Bionic prostheses allow people left without a leg or arm to live a full life. But in fact, only 10% of people who have lost limbs use them. Could bionic prostheses turn us into cyborgs in the future? And why hasn’t this happened yet?

How are bionic prostheses arranged?

A prosthesis is considered bionic, which partially or completely replaces the lost organ and performs its functions. Important: bionic prostheses do not include cosmetic prostheses that simply create the appearance of an arm or leg. For example, a hand that does not move, but simply hangs, is a cosmetic prosthesis. And if she can bend and move her fingers – bionic.

The simplest bionic prostheses are mechanical: they bend and unbend due to the remaining muscles. More complex ones use sensors that respond to nerve impulses and reproduce more complex movements – even fine motor skills. Finally, now there are prostheses that are connected to the brain and respond to its signals directly, bypassing the muscles.

Но обо всем по порядку.

The evolution of bionic prostheses

The first prostheses appeared more than 3 thousand years ago, in ancient Egypt. These were wooden toes that protected from calluses when walking in sandals.

In the XNUMXth century, the German knight Gottfried wore an iron hand whose fingers flexed when a button was pressed in the palm of his hand. They write that with her help he could even write with a pen.

In the XNUMXth and XNUMXth centuries, mechanical devices were worn in Victorian England, which were set in motion with the help of levers and flexible cables. Prostheses have become more functional – they have more mobile joints – and aesthetic: their shape is more like real limbs. Some were even decorated with chasing or engraving.

In the XNUMXth century, prostheses are made traction: to bend or straighten a limb, you need to pull the lever. Lightweight metals and plastics are replacing wood and iron. As a result, the prostheses become light – the imbalance between the injured part of the body and the healthy one disappears. Plastic models also looked as realistic as possible, helping the wearer to cope with constraint when wearing a prosthesis.

Finally, in 1958, the term “bionic” was first used: it was coined by military doctor Jack Steele, who was engaged in medical and aerospace research. He studied natural processes and structures, and then used them for military development. In the same year, the first microelectric arm was developed in the USSR.

The first bionic arm in the modern sense of the word was made in 1993 for John Campbell. It was powered by sensors connected to the brain and hidden under the cap.

In 2007, Canadian Touch Bionics introduced the i-limb, the first widely available bionic prosthesis. This hand weighed only 25 kg, had thin fingers and opened up more opportunities for fine motor skills: from working with a mouse to tying shoelaces. The prosthesis is attached to the sleeve, easily twisted and unscrewed.

In 2010, BeBionic presented the first serial prosthesis at the International Congress for Prosthetics and Orthopedics in Leipzig. And the first widely available – Symbionic Leg – was released in 2011 by the Icelandic Össur. In 2013, she supplemented the model with microprocessor control: now the prosthesis adjusted to the walk of its owner.

Founded in 1971, Össur has become one of the market leaders, having bought 2000 major manufacturers and start-ups since 16. In 2019, its capitalization amounted to more than $450 million.

The next step was brain-controlled prostheses. In 2015, the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) tested one in an F-35 flight simulator, piloted by a paralyzed woman using mechanical arms.

In 2018, the first prostheses for the eye appeared – Argus II. It helps to partially restore vision due to electrical stimulation of the remaining cells.

Modern prostheses use the developments of robotics, are able to imitate individual gestures, and convey tactile sensations. Finally, exoskeletons are a transitional stage: they do not replace lost organs, but complement, expanding human capabilities. With their help, people without physical training can lift weights, and paralyzed people can move.

How much do bionic prostheses cost (and why so expensive)

According to the American analytical company Frost & Sullivan, the average price of modern advanced prostheses ranges from $5 to $50.

The Bebionic prosthesis costs more than $10, the i-limb costs from $60 to $120, and the Argus II bionic eye costs about $150.

In our country, a bionic arm will cost from 100 thousand to 1,5 million rubles.

So far, prostheses have not become mass-produced, and their development is quite expensive, bringing together engineers, biologists, and physicians. At the same time, prostheses are created individually each time: the sleeve to which the bionic arm or leg is attached must ideally fit in shape and size. Sometimes you have to make several models for this, and it takes weeks for training and rehabilitation.

In most cases, prostheses are paid for by the insurance company or the state – as in our country. But for this you need to go through many instances and a medical examination, and the choice of models will be very narrow.

Perhaps 3D printing can correct the situation: with its help, inexpensive prostheses are created, taking into account all individual characteristics, and decorated to your taste. In addition, they are also very light. Such a prosthesis costs up to $10.

The very best: Lego arms, legs for athletes and supermodels

In recent years, bionic prostheses have not only performed their basic function – they have become something more: a way of life, a hobby, and even a fashion accessory.

Are prosthetic gadgets our cyberpunk future?

Now manufacturers of bionic prostheses are striving in every possible way to expand their capabilities through the latest technologies. There are already prostheses with a built-in pay-pass module, a switch for smart devices, a wi-fi module. Very soon, prostheses will be able to replace smartphones, fitness trackers, smart speakers and watches.

What will happen next is difficult to predict. Although Elon Musk, with his brain chip, seems to be hinting that the cyber age is just around the corner.