The Deka Arm: A soldier's "Luke" Arm

In the beginning, there was a wooden peg for a leg and a hook that the arm took. I cannot be so sure this is entirely true, but that is what my first experience of prosthetic limbs were. I remember well, how Caption Hook was defeated by Peter Pan and how he was eaten by that 'gator. - NaturalnSassy

But that was my view, here is a little history and things to know about Prosthetics:

Prosthetics can be taken back in history as far as 1295-664 BC, when limbs were made out of iron and wood for injured soldiers. Soon inventors realized that iron was too heavy. Thus, a wise man by the name of James Potts patented his leg, known as the Anglessy Leg. In 1839, a replica of this invention traveled to the United states when a Confederate soldier of the Civil War, by the name of J.E.Hanger, became the first amputee in the US. He later founded one of the largest artificial limb factories for a period of time.

For all those curious about the four types of artificial limbs there are as followed:

Transtibial Prosthesis - an artificial leg that replaces the limb below the knee

Transfemoral Prosthesis- an artificial leg that replaces the limb above the knee

Transradial Prosthesis - an artificial arm that replaces the limb below the elbow

Transhumeral Prosthesis - an artificial arm that replaces the limb above the elbow

Over the years there were many upgrades to the world of prosthetics. Scientist and inventors have produced limbs that can better assist in daily activities. Some of these inventions have even come close to the actual limb that has been replaced. But let's jump to 9/20/2009.

I admit, I had just eaten, watched most of the last part of the Steelers game (which they lost), and took a nap. As my son raved about how his football team supposidly won, I started waking from my groggyness. I soon found myself coming back into the room with the TV, and a show I seldom ever watch, called 60 mintues, is on. What caught my attention was not the man with the very monotoned voice, but that of a man in a military uniform. So I got curious. The man spoke of an artificial arm that has been in the making for our nations injured soldiers. At the very least, I was moved. With so many tales of roadside bombing, I knew the numbers of soldiers that actually made it back home included a good amount of amputees. Now I am no expert on prosthetics or soldiers with amputations. I just thought that this would be a great topic to share. And no I am not trying to discredit any other organization that have been working on a similar project.

The DEKA Arm

This is a new invention that will require up to $100 million dollars to do all that is needed to assist our injured troops. A military personnel on the broadcast stated that the military spares no expense in training {fighting} and saving lives, then why should we put a price on a soldier that was injured while willing to give his life for his country. Definately not ver batim...but you guys get the picture.

The leading or head Honcho of this study is Dr. Geoffrey Ling, a neurologist and U.S. Army Colonel. He has put a lot of hard work and dedication into his work. Please feel free to do some research on this man, cause again, I was half sleep.

Now, as soon as I watched the show I got on the net and did a little googling of my own. I found out that as you walk onto the floor of this building, a statue of Terminator is standing with one arm missing, which as been replaced by the Deka Arm. They mean business. Some people call this invention "The Luke Arm" from the Star Wars Movie/Show. I'm stil not sure why they gave it this name being that I don't really watch Star Wars. However, technology has gotten so advanced that things such as small motors, linthium batteries, wiring, and more are capable of being squeezed together to make this arm so special.

An average prosthetic will give a person three degrees of mobility. It is usually heavy and very uncomfortable after a period of time. Compared to the human arm's movility of twenty two abilities, that's cutting back a lot of a person's to do list. The Deka Arm, however, has eighteen of these abilities. Isn't that great! On the sixty minutes broadcast, they showed a man using the arm to pick up a grape. There was a pause and an in your head cheering silence, and relief and satisfaction when the task was completed without squishing the grape. This is caused by what they call a tractor. To my understanding, it's sort of like a vibration device. It lets the user know the pressure that the hand is being told to use. Oh yeah, did I tell you that one of the developers demonstrated his hand detached from his body but only attached with those wires and circular tape thingys. He explained that a bundle of nerves still existed where the amputation takes place. By attaching his equipment to the nerves on the skin, he was able to move his arm by just thinking of it. He explained it like, he just pictured in his brain what he wanted to do, and moved his amputated arm to the position he wanted it moved in, and just by it being hooked by wires, this arm that was laid in his lap did all the hand postions. Amazing!

In this interview, there was also a man with robotic legs. And according to the online article, there is a wireless version of these inventions already in the making!
You can check this out for yourself at:
www.cbs.com/60minutes and type Deka Arm in the search query
or read the article at
www.andywendt.wordpress.com/2009/04/17/the-deka-arm-the-real-bionic-limb/

As always....Much love and hugs!!