Bionic limbs enable legless man to walk again

If you ever question whether or not technology is enriching our lives or contributing to the greater good, you need only glance in the direction of modern medicine to get your answer. Take Peng Shulin, a man from China who had the lower half of his body severed in a tragic accident -- for years he has been bedridden, but recently doctors have engineered an ingenious device that is allowing him to walk again. While there isn't a lot of information about the technology, it appears that Mr. Shulin's body is placed into an egg cup-like casing which is connected to two "bionic legs", and through the use of a downsized walking frame he is able to gain locomotion and move freely. Doctors report that Peng is -- unsurprisingly -- "delighted" with the device.

[Via Medgadget]

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 13th 2007 6:14PM]

It could be very interesting if a man without balls and penis still can have a orgasm? Mythbuster anyone? :P

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 13th 2007 6:27PM]

oh come on guys, lighten up, jokes aint there to discriminate against people, they're to make ppl smile, try and cover up how messed up the world is, if u think i actually have anything against this guy, then maybe i should go to hell, but guess what i dont, i am happy for him, i have family members in alot worse state than this guy (no just physical problems) but if someone says something funny about disabled people i will laugh, its when people start discriminating against disabled people for the sake of discriminating that i start to get wound up, so go and fight ur battle against them.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 13th 2007 6:50PM]

Big props to the man with no legs. I couldn't even imagine how rough this dude has it!

And to posters talk'n all that smack i'm sure he could probably beat the shit out of you without the cyborg legs.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 13th 2007 7:20PM]

Nice to see science gave this guy a real...wait for it.... leg-up!

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 13th 2007 8:59PM]

How does that guy take a crap?

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 13th 2007 10:38PM]

To those that questioned why he doesn't use a wheelchair...

With so much of his lower body missing, using a standard style wheelchair would be very problematic. He would little to no leverage to maneuver the wheels without being severly strapped in. Also, being strapped in, he would have no "reach" beyond that of the length of his arms (that might sound simplisticly silly, but imagine that your reach is a combination of arm length and your ability to flex your torso and lean forward while seated).

Even most wheelchair-using leg amputees have their hip region which gives them this much-needed leverage and reach in order to use the chair effectively, and *above all* safely!

With this device he can freely walk around, pivot, lean forward, lean to the side, etc. This is not to say that exotic wheelchair options couldn't be developed, of course, but regaining bipedal ambulatory movement is a fantastic and remarkable achievement.

Look at that smile.

/cheer

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 14th 2007 12:50AM]

I wonder how he survived that accident in the first place? Must have been hell.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 14th 2007 7:04AM]

I have to point out the pink elephant in the room here - how the hell does he go to the bathroom? He looks completely rounded off at the torso with no exits - it seems like his intestines are completely gone. God speed to the man for being able to look so happy!

[Pixel Posted Jul 14th 2007 4:32PM]

Hey, she's pink, but I wouldn't go as far as calling her an elephant.

=P

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 14th 2007 11:21AM]

This looks great. The guy looks thrilled. But is there a video of him walking? I would think the lack of knee joint would make his gait be an awkward rocking motion.

[BowserUSC Posted Jul 14th 2007 3:04PM]

Seeing that smile on his face almost made me cry.

[ComradeZ Posted Jul 15th 2007 2:13PM]

Awesome, but isn't it freaky that they apparently don't have air conditioning in that fancy lab of theirs?

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 16th 2007 9:25AM]

Uh oh.... it's happening....
http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/robotic-crimelords-could-undermine-police-society-at-large/

[JCDoe Posted Jul 16th 2007 12:06PM]

I think he looks more like Mr Peanut personally . . .