Prosthetic enhancement Prosthesis

sgt. jerrod fields, u.s. army world class athlete program paralympic sprinter hopeful, works out @ u.s. olympic training center in chula vista, calif. below-the-knee amputee, fields won gold medal in 100 meters time of 12.15 seconds @ endeavor games in edmond, okla., on june 13, 2009

in addition standard artificial limb everyday use, many amputees or congenital patients have special limbs , devices aid in participation of sports , recreational activities.

within science fiction, and, more recently, within scientific community, there has been consideration given using advanced prostheses replace healthy body parts artificial mechanisms , systems improve function. morality , desirability of such technologies being debated transhumanists, other ethicists, , others in general. body parts such legs, arms, hands, feet, , others can replaced.

the first experiment healthy individual appears have been british scientist kevin warwick. in 2002, implant interfaced directly warwick s nervous system. electrode array, contained around hundred electrodes, placed in median nerve. signals produced detailed enough robot arm able mimic actions of warwick s own arm , provide form of touch feedback again via implant.

the deka company of dean kamen developed luke arm , advanced nerve-controlled prosthetic. clinical trials began in 2008, fda approval in 2014 , commercial manufacturing universal instruments corporation expected in 2017. price offered @ retail mobius bionics expected around $100,000.

oscar pistorius

in 2008, oscar pistorius, blade runner of south africa, briefly ruled ineligible compete in 2008 summer olympics because transtibial prosthesis limbs said give him unfair advantage on runners had ankles. 1 researcher found limbs used twenty-five percent less energy of able-bodied runner moving @ same speed. ruling overturned on appeal, appellate court stating overall set of advantages , disadvantages of pistorius limbs had not been considered.

pistorius did not qualify south african team olympics, went on sweep 2008 summer paralympics, , has been ruled eligible qualify future olympics. qualified 2011 world championship in south korea , reached semifinal ended last timewise, 14th in first round, personal best @ 400m have given him 5th place in finals. @ 2012 summer olympics in london, pistorius became first amputee runner compete @ olympic games. ran in 400 metres race semifinals, , 4 × 400 metres relay race finals. competed in 5 events in 2012 summer paralympics in london.