Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Insert Coin: A look back at ten top projects from 2011]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/31/insert-coin-a-look-back-at-ten-top-projects-from-2011/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/31/insert-coin-a-look-back-at-ten-top-projects-from-2011/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/31/insert-coin-a-look-back-at-ten-top-projects-from-2011/#comments #editors-choice #editors-header { padding: 0; margin: 10px 0; } #editors-choice .section { border: 5px solid #EEE; margin: 10px 0; position: relative; } #editors-choice .section:hover { border-color: #00BDF6; } #editors-choice .section a:hover { text-decoration: none; } #editors-choice .section .winner { display: block; } #editors-choice .section .winner img { display: block; float: left; margin: 0; } #editors-choice .section .winner .details { float: left; width: 410px; margin: 0 0 0 15px; } #editors-choice .section .winner .details h2 { color: #444; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: -1px; padding: 10px 0 0; } #editors-choice .section .winner .details h3 { font-size: 26px; letter-spacing: -1px; padding: 7px 0 11px; } #editors-choice .section .winner .details p { color: #222; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; } #editors-choice .section .runner-up { display: block; position: absolute; bottom: 0; right: 0; background-color: #333; padding: 3px 10px; } #editors-choice .section .runner-up strong { font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; letter-spacing: -1px; margin-right: 3px; color: #BBB; }

2011 has been a tremendous year for tech -- Amazon launched a $200 Android tablet, AT&T and Verizon continued their LTE expansion, Apple killed off the Mac mini's SuperDrive and Samsung introduced a well-received killer 5.3-inch smartphone. But tiny tech startups made their mark as well, proving that you don't need an enormous R&D budget to spur innovation. Still, development isn't free, and unless your social circle includes eager investors, seed money has been traditionally hard to come by.

For many of this year's indie devs, crowdfunding sites have been the answer, with Kickstarter leading the pack. We've seen an enormous variety of projects -- including a deluge of duds and plenty more semi-redundant iPhone accessories -- but a few treasures soared above the swill to be featured in our Insert Coin series, with many of those meeting their funding goals and even making their way into the hands of consumers. Now, as 2011 draws to a close, we've gone through this past year's projects to single out our top ten, and they're waiting for your consideration just past the break.

Continue reading Insert Coin: A look back at ten top projects from 2011

Insert Coin: A look back at ten top projects from 2011 originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 31 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>6dotappleArduinoaudiobraillecameracamera triggercamerasCameraTriggereyezfeaturefeaturesheadphoneheadphonesinsert coinInsertCoiniphoneiphone 4Iphone4ipodipod shuffleIpodShufflekickstarterkye allumsKyeAllumslabelermobilepostcrossmousemutitouchODDIO1olloclipprostheticremoteremote controlRemoteControlrobotroboticsrobotsromoshufflesmartphonesmartphonesTeagueduinotriggertrigger traptriggersTriggerTraptwinezioneyezSat, 31 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MIT unveils computer chip that thinks like the human brain, Skynet just around the corner]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/15/mit-unveils-computer-chip-that-thinks-like-the-human-brain-skyn/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/15/mit-unveils-computer-chip-that-thinks-like-the-human-brain-skyn/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/15/mit-unveils-computer-chip-that-thinks-like-the-human-brain-skyn/#commentsIt may be a bit on the Uncanny Valley side of things to have a computer chip that can mimic the human brain's activity, but it's still undeniably cool. Over at MIT, researchers have unveiled a chip that mimics how the brain's neurons adapt to new information (a process known as plasticity) which could help in understanding assorted brain functions, including learning and memory. The silicon chip contains about 400 transistors and can simulate the activity of a single brain synapse -- the space between two neurons that allows information to flow from one to the other. Researchers anticipate this chip will help neuroscientists learn much more about how the brain works, and could also be used in neural prosthetic devices such as artificial retinas. Moving into the realm of "super cool things we could do with the chip," MIT's researchers have outlined plans to model specific neural functions, such as the visual processing system. Such systems could be much faster than digital computers and where it might take hours or days to simulate a simple brain circuit, the chip -- which functions on an analog method -- could be even faster than the biological system itself. In other news, the chip will gladly handle next week's grocery run, since it knows which foods are better for you than you ever could.

MIT unveils computer chip that thinks like the human brain, Skynet just around the corner originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 Nov 2011 14:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brainchipcircuitlearningmemoryMITneuroscienceprostheticresearchretinassiliconsynapsetransistorsUncanny ValleyUncannyValleyTue, 15 Nov 2011 14:13:00 EST<![CDATA[British man's prosthetic arm doubles as Nokia C7 dock]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/26/british-mans-prosthetic-arm-doubles-as-nokia-c7-dock/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/26/british-mans-prosthetic-arm-doubles-as-nokia-c7-dock/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/26/british-mans-prosthetic-arm-doubles-as-nokia-c7-dock/#comments Smartphones have changed our lives, sure, but for those with only one arm, the touchscreen-centric devices can be a downright nuisance. Trevor Prideaux of Somerset, England has worked out of a solution, with help from Nokia and some folks in the medical community. A prosthetist built the 50-year-old catering manager a limb with a cradle for his Nokia C7, allowing Prideaux to operate the phone with a single hand. Prideaux told The Telegraph that he'd initially approached Apple for assistance with the project, eventually settling on Nokia after the Finnish handset maker agreed to help out.

[Image source: The Telegraph]

British man's prosthetic arm doubles as Nokia C7 dock originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 26 Oct 2011 14:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>c7englandmobilepostcrossnokianokia c7NokiaC7prostheticprostheticssmartphonesmartphonessomersettrevor PrideauxTrevorPrideauxukWed, 26 Oct 2011 14:24:00 EST<![CDATA[Monkeys control virtual arm with their brains, may herald breakthrough for paraplegics]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/06/monkeys-control-virtual-arm-with-their-brains-may-herald-breakt/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/06/monkeys-control-virtual-arm-with-their-brains-may-herald-breakt/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/06/monkeys-control-virtual-arm-with-their-brains-may-herald-breakt/#commentsMonkey mind-controlled arm: It sounds like the name of an awesomely terrible sci-fi film or a fledgling grindcore group, but it's a very real phenomenon, and one that could pay significant dividends for paraplegics everywhere. Neurobiology professor Miguel Nicolelis and his team of researchers at Duke University recently devised a method by which monkeys (and, perhaps one day, humans) can control a virtual arm using only their brains. It's a concept similar to what DARPA has been pursuing with its mind-controlled "Luke" arm, with one important difference: Nicolelis' system not only allows users to remotely execute motor functions, but provides them with near-instantaneous sensory feedback, as well. Most similar techniques use electrode implants to stimulate brain activity, but this can create confusion when a patient's brain sends and receives signals to and from a prosthetic arm. Nicolelis circumvented this problem with a new interface that can read and transmit brain signals to an artificial limb, before switching to a receptive mode in just milliseconds.

After designing the technology, Nicolelis and his colleagues tested it on two, electrode-equipped rhesus monkeys. One set of electrodes was placed in the motor cortex of each animal, with the other implanted within their brains' sensory regions. They then trained the monkeys to look at a three identical objects on a computer screen and to "touch" each object with a virtual arm, controlled by signals sent from the brain electrodes. Only one of the three objects had a so-called "virtual texture," which, if selected with the on-screen arm, would send a sensory signal back to the monkey's brain (while triggering a tasty squirt of fruit juice for the lucky contestant). The two rhesus species ended up passing the test with flying colors, resulting in a "proof of principle" that Nicolelis' system can send tactile signals to the brain in almost real-time. The scientists have already developed a way for monkeys to control the arm wirelessly, and are now embedding their technology within a full-body, mind-controlled exoskeleton for paralyzed patients, as well. Of course, the technology still needs to be tested on actual humans, though Nicolelis seems confident that he and his team have already cleared the most difficult hurdle: "Since we cannot talk to the monkeys, I assume with human patients, it's going to be much easier."

Monkeys control virtual arm with their brains, may herald breakthrough for paraplegics originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Oct 2011 17:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>armartificial limbArtificialLimbbrainDukeDuke UniversityDukeUniversityhealthlimbmedicineMiguel NicolelisMiguelNicolelismindmind controlmind controlledMindControlMindControlledmonkeyneurobiologyneurologyneuronparalysisparalyzedparaplegicproof of principleProofOfPrincipleprostheticprosthetic armProstheticArmrhesussciencesensoryvirtualvirtual armVirtualArmThu, 06 Oct 2011 17:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Virtu-LIMB lets prospective patients take upgraded Touch Bionics hand for a spin]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/22/virtu-limb-lets-prospective-patients-take-upgraded-touch-bionics/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/22/virtu-limb-lets-prospective-patients-take-upgraded-touch-bionics/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/22/virtu-limb-lets-prospective-patients-take-upgraded-touch-bionics/#comments It looks like Touch Bionics is bringing the classic "try before you buy" racket to the world of bionic hands. Say hello to the Virtu-LIMB, a simulation and training setup for myoelectric upper limb prostheses. This little yellow dome tethers to a patient's arm and transmits their myoelectric signals to a nearby computer via Bluetooth -- the data is then used to either control an i-LIMB Ultra prosthetic hand or, failing that, a PC simulation of one. The rig was shown at the American Orthotic & Prosthetic Association National Assembly this week, and can be used to help clinicians fine-tune prostheses for their patients, train patients to manipulate their bionic digits, or even demonstrate the Touch Bionics' i-LIMB to a potential user. The i-LIMB Ultra itself is an upgraded replacement for the outfit's i-LIMB Pulse, featuring a new variable digit-by-digit grip mode, increased flexibility, extended battery life (and low battery audio warning), and the ability to create custom gestures. The new unit even returns to a natural resting state after a period of inactivity, keeping the devil out of your idle hands.

Virtu-LIMB lets prospective patients take upgraded Touch Bionics hand for a spin originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Sep 2011 10:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bionic handBionicHandi-limbi-limb handi-limb pulsei-limb ultraI-limbHandI-limbPulseI-limbUltraprostheticprosthetic handProstheticHandTouch Bionicstouch bionics i-limb pulseTouchBionicsTouchBionicsI-limbPulseVirtu-limbThu, 22 Sep 2011 10:23:00 EST<![CDATA[Eyeborg filmmaker fires up eye-cam to document cutting edge prosthetics (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/28/eyeborg-filmmaker-fires-up-eye-cam-to-document-cutting-edge-pros/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/28/eyeborg-filmmaker-fires-up-eye-cam-to-document-cutting-edge-pros/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/28/eyeborg-filmmaker-fires-up-eye-cam-to-document-cutting-edge-pros/#comments Eyeborg In late 2008 filmmaker Rob Spence, caught our attention when he announced his plan to jam a video camera in his skull to replace an eye he lost to an unfortunate accident. Instead of connecting the camera to his brain, Spence sought to become a so-called "lifecaster," recording the feed on an external device. Now his bionic eye is up and running, and he's even partnered with a little company called Square Enix to create a documentary about state-of-the-art prosthetics and cybernetics. The short film, embedded after the break, was commissioned to celebrate the launch of Deus Ex: Human Revolution. But, this isn't just some over-long commercial for a game, it's a serious exploration of cutting edge leg, arm, and eye replacement technology. Check it out below, but be warned -- there are a few image that might not sit well with weaker stomachs.

Continue reading Eyeborg filmmaker fires up eye-cam to document cutting edge prosthetics (video)

Eyeborg filmmaker fires up eye-cam to document cutting edge prosthetics (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 28 Aug 2011 16:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cyberneticscyborgcyborgsdeus exDeus Ex: Human RevolutionDeusExDeusEx:HumanRevolutioneye implanteyeborgeyeborg projectEyeborgProjectEyeImplantimplantimplantsmed techmedicalmedicineMedTechprostheticprostheticsrob spenceRobSpencesquaresquare enixSquareEnixvideoSun, 28 Aug 2011 16:38:00 EST<![CDATA[Bionic leg anticipates wearer's movements for more natural motion]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/18/bionic-leg-anticipates-wearers-movements-for-more-natural-motio/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/18/bionic-leg-anticipates-wearers-movements-for-more-natural-motio/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/18/bionic-leg-anticipates-wearers-movements-for-more-natural-motio/#comments Vanderbilt University researchers have debuted a new prosthetic leg that promises a more natural walking experience. Built-in sensors monitor the wearer's movement, data which is sent to a microprocessor, in order anticipate motion. The knee and ankle joints, meanwhile, work in unison, considerably cutting down on the sort of lag this is customary with more traditional prosthetic devices, a fact confirmed by tester Craig Hutto. The bionic limb, which took some seven years to develop, can increase the walking speed of its wearer by up to 25 percent, thanks to its need for considerably less energy from the user than passive prosthetic limbs. Check out a video of the leg in action at the source link below.

Bionic leg anticipates wearer's movements for more natural motion originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Aug 2011 12:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bioniccraig huttoCraigHuttokegprostheticprosthetic legProstheticLegprostheticsvanderbiltThu, 18 Aug 2011 12:27:00 EST<![CDATA[BBC shows us what it's like to live with a bionic hand]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/19/video-shows-a-man-and-his-bionic-hand-makes-us-wish-we-had-one/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/19/video-shows-a-man-and-his-bionic-hand-makes-us-wish-we-had-one/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/19/video-shows-a-man-and-his-bionic-hand-makes-us-wish-we-had-one/#comments
We've posted a fair share on bionic limbs and their advancements over the years, but rarely have we had the chance to see a video of one in real world use, on a real person. The BBC has shared a video of a man named Patrick using his bionic arm, which -- long story short -- was partially the result of being electrocuted at work. This is his second one to date and specifically, it's a prototype Otto Bock mind-controlled prosthetic arm equipped with six nerve sensors that let him use the hand as if it were his own -- it supports pinching and gripping with the fingers as well as lateral and circular movement of the wrist. Although the footage is a mundane roll of various day to day tasks -- gripping a bottle to pour a glass of water for instance -- it's quite amazing to realize technology is helping him do things he'd otherwise be deprived of. We'd suggest checking it out at the BBC by clicking the source link below.

BBC shows us what it's like to live with a bionic hand originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 19 May 2011 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>armbbcbionicbionic armbionic handBionic WomanBionicArmBionicGolfGloveBionicHandbionicsBionicWomanelectrocutedelectrocutionhandotto bockottobockprostheticprostheticsprothesisrobotvideoThu, 19 May 2011 08:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Researchers take one step closer to neural-controlled bionic legs for safer mobility]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/26/researchers-take-one-step-closer-to-neural-controlled-bionic-leg/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/26/researchers-take-one-step-closer-to-neural-controlled-bionic-leg/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/26/researchers-take-one-step-closer-to-neural-controlled-bionic-leg/#commentsMind-controlled prosthetic legWe've seen our fair share of prosthetic arms and computer interfaces operated with little more than the firing of a synapse, but legs? They're a different story: balancing and propelling a sack of (mostly) flesh and bone is a much more complicated task than simply picking up a sandwich. Thankfully, the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago's Center for Bionic Medicine is now one step closer to thought-controlled lower-limb prosthetics. As pictured here, the researchers' early simulations showed that amputees could control a virtual knee and ankle with 91-percent accuracy, by way of pattern recognition software to interpret electrical signals delivered through nine different muscles in the thigh -- patients think about moving, thus lighting up the nerves in varying patterns to indicate different motions. The ultimate goal is to hook up bionic legs through the same way, which would offer a greater range of motion than existing prosthetics, making tasks like walking up and down stairs safer. Now all we need is a quadruple amputee willing to pick up a badge and slap on an eye-tracking microdisplay.

Continue reading Researchers take one step closer to neural-controlled bionic legs for safer mobility

Researchers take one step closer to neural-controlled bionic legs for safer mobility originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 26 Apr 2011 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ALTamputeebionicbionic legBionicLegCenter for Bionic MedicineCenterForBionicMedicinecruracrusdisabilitydisabledlegmuscleneuralneural controlNeuralControlneuroscienceprostheticprostheticsRehabilitation Institute of ChicagoRehabilitationInstituteOfChicagoRICscienceTue, 26 Apr 2011 10:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Researchers build synthetic synapse circuit, prosthetic brains still decades away]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/25/researchers-build-synthetic-synapse-circuit-prosthetic-brains-s/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/25/researchers-build-synthetic-synapse-circuit-prosthetic-brains-s/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/25/researchers-build-synthetic-synapse-circuit-prosthetic-brains-s/#comments Building a franken-brain has long been a holy grail of sorts for scientists, but now a team of engineering researchers have made what they claim to be a significant breakthrough towards that goal. Alice Parker and Chongwu Zhou of USC used carbon nanotubes to create synthetic synapse circuits that mimic neurons, the basic building blocks of the brain. This could be invaluable to AI research, though the team still hasn't tackled the problem of scope -- our brains are home to 100 billion neurons, each of which has 10,000 synapses. Moreover, these nanotubes are critically lacking in plasticity -- they can't form new connections, produce new neurons, or adapt with age. All told, the scientists say, we're decades away from having fake brains -- or even sections of it -- but if the technology advances as they hope it will, people might one day be able to recover from devastating brain injuries and drive cars smart enough to avert deadly accidents.

Continue reading Researchers build synthetic synapse circuit, prosthetic brains still decades away

Researchers build synthetic synapse circuit, prosthetic brains still decades away originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Apr 2011 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AIAlice ParkerAliceParkerArtificial intelligenceArtificialIntelligencebrainChongwu ZhouChongwuZhoucircuitcircuitsengineerengineeringengineersfake brainFakeBrainnanotechnanotechnologynanotubenanotubesneuronneuronsprosthesisprostheticresearchresearcherresearchersscientistscientistssynapsesynthetic synapseSyntheticSynapseUSCMon, 25 Apr 2011 19:24:00 EST<![CDATA[AMO Arm pneumatic prosthetic does mind-control on the cheap]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/05/amo-arm-pneumatic-prosthetic-does-mind-control-on-the-cheap/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/05/amo-arm-pneumatic-prosthetic-does-mind-control-on-the-cheap/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/05/amo-arm-pneumatic-prosthetic-does-mind-control-on-the-cheap/#comments We're no strangers to amputees moving stuff with their minds -- for that matter, a thought-controlled prosthetic isn't really new to us, either -- but the pneumatic arm you see here isn't like other intelligent limbs. Unlike most mind-operated prosthesis, the Artificial Muscle-Operated (AMO) Arm doesn't require invasive surgery, and according to its inventors, it costs a quarter of the price to make. Here's how the thing works: the host human wears a headset that sends brain signals to a chip in the arm that then matches those signals to a database of related actions, triggering a series of pneumatic pumps and valves to move the limb. Thus, if the wearer thinks 'up,' the arm moves up. The AMO Arm's creators, a pair of undergraduate biomed students, say that not only is their invention a steal to produce, but it also takes just minutes to acclimate to, which has us wondering, do you have to be missing an arm to get a hold of one of these things? You know, we can always use an extra hand. Full PR after the break.

Continue reading AMO Arm pneumatic prosthetic does mind-control on the cheap

AMO Arm pneumatic prosthetic does mind-control on the cheap originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 05:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AMO armAmoArmarmarticifial muscle operated armArticifialMuscleOperatedArmbiomedbiomedicalbiomedical engineeringBiomedicalEngineeringengineeringintelligent prostheticIntelligentProstheticmedicalmedicineMichal PrywataMichalPrywatamind controlmind controlledMindControlMindControlledpneumatic armPneumaticArmprosthesisprostheticprosthetic armProstheticArmprostheticsryerson universityRyersonUniversityscienceThiago CairesThiagoCairesthought controlthought control armthought controlled armThoughtControlThoughtControlArmThoughtControlledArmundergraduateTue, 05 Apr 2011 05:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Power Knee motorized prosthetic officially available in US, Europe -- race of cyborgs still in infancy]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/24/power-knee-motorized-prosthetic-officially-available-in-us-euro/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/24/power-knee-motorized-prosthetic-officially-available-in-us-euro/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/24/power-knee-motorized-prosthetic-officially-available-in-us-euro/#comments We reported on Ossur's robotic prosthetic back in 2009, and now amputees in Europe and the United States have become the first official recipients of the Power Knee. According to the company, "the world's first and only motor-powered prosthetic knee" was recently approved for reimbursement by the German National Health System, covered by private insurance in France and the UK, and picked up by select healthcare providers in the US. Power Knee combines "artificial intelligence," motion sensors, and wireless communication to learn and adjust to the walking style of its users -- that's one small step for real-life cyborgs and one giant leap for prosthetic technology.

Continue reading Power Knee motorized prosthetic officially available in US, Europe -- race of cyborgs still in infancy

Power Knee motorized prosthetic officially available in US, Europe -- race of cyborgs still in infancy originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 Feb 2011 07:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amputeeamputeesaritificial-intelligenceavailablecyborghealthhealthcareinsurancekneemedicalmedicineOssurOssur Power KneeOssurPowerKneepowerpower kneePowerKneeprosthesisprostheticprostheticsreleaserobotroboticroboticsThu, 24 Feb 2011 07:47:00 EST<![CDATA[UCLA / Caltech researchers help patients move mouse cursors with their brains]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/02/ucla-caltech-researchers-help-patients-move-mouse-cursors-with/http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/02/ucla-caltech-researchers-help-patients-move-mouse-cursors-with/http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/02/ucla-caltech-researchers-help-patients-move-mouse-cursors-with/#commentsIt's certainly not a revolutionary new concept -- whiz kids have been tinkering with brain-controlled interfaces for years on end -- but a collaboration between UCLA scientists and colleagues from the California Institute of Technology has taken the idea one leap closer to commercialization. Itzhak Fried, a professor of neurosurgery at UCLA, kept a close watch (via embedded electrodes) on how a dozen humans reacted to certain images, and eventually, Fried and co. were able to show that Earthlings can "regulate the activity of their neurons to intentionally alter the outcome of stimulation." In other words, they were able to move a mouse cursor with just their mind, and brighten a test image with a 70 percent success rate. By honing the process of controlling what actions occur when focused on a given subject (or input peripheral), it opens up the possibility for paralyzed individuals to not only check their email, but also control prosthetic limbs. It's hard to say when this stuff will be put to good use outside of a hospital, but the video after the break definitely makes us long for "sooner" rather than "later."

Continue reading UCLA / Caltech researchers help patients move mouse cursors with their brains

UCLA / Caltech researchers help patients move mouse cursors with their brains originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Nov 2010 04:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bcibrain controlled interfacebrain-controlledbrain-controlled cursorbrain-controlled interfaceBrain-controlledCursorBrain-controlledInterfaceBrainControlledInterfacecaltechepilepsyhandicaphandicappedhealthItzhak FriedItzhakFriedmedicalmedicinemind controlMindControlneuronneurosurgeryparalyzedprostheticresearchseizurestudythoughtthought controlThoughtControlUCLAuniversityvideoTue, 02 Nov 2010 04:12:00 EST<![CDATA[Dean Kamen unveils revamped bionic arm and water machine, LED light bulb powered by Cree]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/28/dean-kamen-unveils-new-bionic-arm-and-water-machine-led-light-b/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/28/dean-kamen-unveils-new-bionic-arm-and-water-machine-led-light-b/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/28/dean-kamen-unveils-new-bionic-arm-and-water-machine-led-light-b/#comments Segway inventor Dean Kamen just stole the show at TEDMED 2010, with both a far-reaching lecture on how technology can save the developing world, and a peek at his latest projects. We'll spare you the wave of guilt for now and get right to the cool stuff, like the latest rendition of his Luke prosthetic arm and Slingshot water machine. Dean admitted he's having difficulty finding companies interested in manufacturing the former, but it's looking snazzier than when it last grabbed Stephen Colbert, with components like this shoulder piece printed out of titanium in a custom 3D printer, and it's slated to look like this. The Slingshot's seeing even more action, as Dean and company have pulled it out of the ugly box into these svelte tubes, and finally has a distribution deal (with Coca-Cola, of all companies) to bring the clean-water-from-any-source machines to developing countries in trials early next year.

Last but not least, the man's got a product you might be able to afford for your home. In the quest for an item for his FIRST young engineers to sell -- a la Girl Scout cookies -- he tapped LED manufacturer Cree to produce an 450 lumen light bulb that draws just 7 watts and will retail for about $25 door-to-door. In case you're wondering, that's cheaper and more efficient than most any lamp we've seen before. Dean says they've already produced several hundred thousand of the bulbs thanks to a surprise $3 million investment from Google, and plan to have them in the hands of every FIRST kid soon. Keep on fighting the good fight, Dean.

Gallery: Dean Kamen at TEDMED 2010

Dean Kamen unveils revamped bionic arm and water machine, LED light bulb powered by Cree originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 Oct 2010 20:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3D printer3dPrinterartificial armArtificialArmbionicbionic armBionicArmbionicscreeDean KamenDeanKamenfirstledled light bulbLedLightBulblightlight bulbLightBulblukeprostheticprostheticsslingshotTEDMEDTEDMED 2010Tedmed2010waterwater machineWaterMachineThu, 28 Oct 2010 20:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Man with bionic arms dies after car crash]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/23/man-with-bionic-arms-dies-after-car-crash/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/23/man-with-bionic-arms-dies-after-car-crash/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/23/man-with-bionic-arms-dies-after-car-crash/#comments Otto Bock's mind-controlled bionic arms let Austria's Christian Kandlbauer work, play and even drive, but it seems the latter passion may have lead to the 22-year-old's untimely demise. Two days after a road accident where the young man's specially-modified Subaru crashed into a tree, Kandlbauer was pronounced brain-dead and taken off life support late last week. It's not known whether the prosthetic arms themselves had anything to do with the crash -- one was found ripped from his body at the scene -- but both he and his vehicle were cleared to drive by local authorities after passing a number of tests. Honestly, it's a tragedy for science and humanity either way.

Man with bionic arms dies after car crash originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 23 Oct 2010 14:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accidentbionicbionic armBionicArmchristian kandlbauerChristianKandlbauerdeaddeathfatalityobitobituariesobituaryOtto BockOttoBockprostheticprosthetic armprosthetic limbsProstheticArmProstheticLimbsprostheticsSat, 23 Oct 2010 14:09:00 EST<![CDATA[SMU and DARPA develop fiber optics for the human nervous system]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/18/smu-and-darpa-develop-fiber-optics-for-the-human-nervous-system/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/18/smu-and-darpa-develop-fiber-optics-for-the-human-nervous-system/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/18/smu-and-darpa-develop-fiber-optics-for-the-human-nervous-system/#comments
The Department of Defense and Southern Methodist University have teamed up to develop prosthetics that use two-way fiber optic communication between artificial limbs and peripheral nerves to essentially give these devices the ability to feel pressure or temperature. The technology is called neurophotonics, and it will someday allow hi-speed communication between the brain and artificial limbs. But that's just the beginning -- the work being done at SMU's Neurophotonics Research Center might someday lead to brain implants that control tremors, neuro-modulators for chronic pain management, implants for treating spinal cord injuries, and more. And since we can't have a post about DARPA-funded research without the following trope, Dean Orsak of the SMU Lyle School of Engineering points out that "[s]cience fiction writers have long imagined the day when the understanding and intuition of the human brain could be enhanced by the lightning speed of computing technologies. With this remarkable research initiative, we are truly beginning a journey into the future that will provide immeasurable benefits to humanity." Truly.

SMU and DARPA develop fiber optics for the human nervous system originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 18 Sep 2010 22:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artificial limbsArtificialLimbsdarpadefensedepartment of defenseDepartmentOfDefensedodfiber opticFiberOpticNeurophotonicsNeurophotonics Research CenterNeurophotonicsResearchCenterprostheticprostheticsresearchsmusouthern methodist universitySouthernMethodistUniversitySat, 18 Sep 2010 22:05:00 EST<![CDATA[UC Berkeley researchers craft ultra-sensitive artificial skin, robots dream of holding eggs]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/13/uc-berkeley-researchers-craft-ultra-sensitive-artificial-skin-r/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/13/uc-berkeley-researchers-craft-ultra-sensitive-artificial-skin-r/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/13/uc-berkeley-researchers-craft-ultra-sensitive-artificial-skin-r/#commentsResearchers and engineers have been toiling on synthetic skins for years now, but most of 'em have run into one major problem: the fact that organic materials are poor semiconductors. In other words, older skins have required high levels of power to operate, and those using inorganic materials have traditionally been too fragile for use on prosthetics. Thanks to a team of researchers at UC Berkeley, though, we're looking at a new "pressure-sensitive electronic material from semiconductor nanowires." The new 'e-skin' is supposedly the first material made out of inorganic single crystalline semiconductors, and at least in theory, it could be widely used in at least two applications. First off, robots could use this skin to accurately determine how much force should be applied (or not applied, as the case may be) to hold a given object. Secondly, this skin could give touch back to those with artificial hands and limbs, though that would first require "significant advances in the integration of electronic sensors with the human nervous system. Dollars to donuts this gets tested on the gridiron when UCLA and / or Stanford comes to town.

UC Berkeley researchers craft ultra-sensitive artificial skin, robots dream of holding eggs originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Sep 2010 12:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artificial skinArtificialSkinberkeleye-skinengineernanowirenanowiresprostheticprostheticsresearchsciencesensingsensorsensorsskinUC BerkeleyUcBerkeleyuniversityMon, 13 Sep 2010 12:37:00 EST<![CDATA[New prosthesis sends feedback to the brain, might alleviate phantom pain]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/10/new-prosthesis-sends-feedback-to-the-brain-might-alleviate-phan/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/10/new-prosthesis-sends-feedback-to-the-brain-might-alleviate-phan/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/10/new-prosthesis-sends-feedback-to-the-brain-might-alleviate-phan/#comments
Even as prosthetic technology advances, the problem of phantom limb sensation persists. Essentially pain, pressure, or some other stimulus attributed by the brain to a limb that has been lost, the exact cause for this is unknown -- and it's a very real problem for amputees. Hoping to better understand (and someday maybe eliminate) the phenomenon, researchers at the University of Jena in Germany have developed a prosthesis that uses sensors and a stimulation unit to send feedback from the patient's artificial hand back to the brain, offering some relief to the individual in the process. So far, the team has had some success, but as the school's Dr. Thomas Weiss points out, there is quite a bit of work yet to be done to determine if "the hand is helpful to only a few people or if it is a therapeutic for all wearers of artificial limbs."

New prosthesis sends feedback to the brain, might alleviate phantom pain originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Aug 2010 07:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Dr. Thomas WeissDr.ThomasWeissmedicineprosthesisprostheticprosthetic handprosthetic limbsProstheticHandProstheticLimbsprostheticsuniversity of jenaUniversityOfJenaTue, 10 Aug 2010 07:29:00 EST<![CDATA[DARPA-funded prosthetic arm reaches phase three, would-be cyborgs celebrate]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/18/darpa-funded-prosthetic-arm-reaches-phase-three-would-be-cyborg/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/18/darpa-funded-prosthetic-arm-reaches-phase-three-would-be-cyborg/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/18/darpa-funded-prosthetic-arm-reaches-phase-three-would-be-cyborg/#comments Last we heard from Johns Hopkins University's Applied Physics Laboratory, it wanted a neurally-controlled bionic arm by 2009. Needless to say, the school overshot that goal by a tiny bit, and have now been beaten (twice) to the punch. But DARPA sees $34.5 million worth of promise in their third and final prototype, which will enable the nine pound kit (with 22 degrees of freedom and sensory feedback) to begin clinical trials. Rechristened the Modular Prosthetic Limb, it will be grafted onto as many as five real, live persons, the first within the year. Using the targeted muscle reinnervation technique pioneered at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, patients will control these arms directly with their thoughts, and for their sakes and the fate of humanity, hopefully not the other way around. Press release after the break.

Continue reading DARPA-funded prosthetic arm reaches phase three, would-be cyborgs celebrate

DARPA-funded prosthetic arm reaches phase three, would-be cyborgs celebrate originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 18 Jul 2010 10:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applied physics laboratoryAppliedPhysicsLaboratorybionicbionic armBionicArmDARPAjohns hopkinsJohns Hopkins UniversityJohnsHopkinsJohnsHopkinsUniversityModular Prosthetic LimbModularProstheticLimbMPLmusclemusclesneuralprosthesisprostheticprosthetic armprosthetic limbsProstheticArmProstheticLimbsprostheticstargeted muscle reinnervationTargetedMuscleReinnervationSun, 18 Jul 2010 10:47:00 EST<![CDATA[Amputee cat gets bionic back legs and a new attitude]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/25/amputee-cat-gets-bionic-back-legs-and-a-new-attitude/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/25/amputee-cat-gets-bionic-back-legs-and-a-new-attitude/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/25/amputee-cat-gets-bionic-back-legs-and-a-new-attitude/#comments
When Oscar the cat got both of his back legs severed by a harvester, his prognosis was undoubtedly grim. Luckily for him, he was referred to a veterinarian, Noel Fitzpatrick, who had some pretty interesting ideas of his own. Dr. Fitzpatrick has successfully given the cat two back prosthetic legs, but they're completely unlike any prosthetic we've ever seen. Oscar's been given Itaps (intraosseous transcutaneous amputation prosthetics) which were developed at University College London. Itaps are custom made pegs which allow the bone and skin to grow to them, meaning that the "prosthetic" actually becomes part of the appendage itself. The surgery has been in testing for humans since 2005, and this one was the first performed on an animal. Hit up the BBC source link to check out a video of the kitty getting mobile.

Amputee cat gets bionic back legs and a new attitude originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 25 Jun 2010 13:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>catcatsenglanditapsmedicalnoel fitzpatrickNoelFitzpatrickprostheticprostheticsscienceucluniversity colleg londonUniversityCollegLondonFri, 25 Jun 2010 13:25:00 EST<![CDATA[BeBionic officially unveils its incredible myo-electric bionic hand]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/24/bebionic-officially-unveils-its-incredible-myo-electric-bionic-h/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/24/bebionic-officially-unveils-its-incredible-myo-electric-bionic-h/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/24/bebionic-officially-unveils-its-incredible-myo-electric-bionic-h/#comments
Back in February when we first caught wind of BeBionic's myo-electric, very realistic bionic hand, we were quite impressed. The finished product was just unveiled at ISPO World Congress in Leipzig Germany, and it's looking even better than our first glimpse gave away. We don't know a ton more about how the hand functions -- it boasts a fully integrated wireless chip, fully customizable functions to control speed, grip force, and grip patterns, plus aesthetic bonuses such as silicone skin overlays in 19 different tones. The BeBionic hand is now due for worldwide distribution in June of this year -- but check out the teaser video below if you're still curious.

Continue reading BeBionic officially unveils its incredible myo-electric bionic hand

BeBionic officially unveils its incredible myo-electric bionic hand originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 24 May 2010 10:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bebionichandhandsprostheticprostheticsvideoMon, 24 May 2010 10:39:00 EST<![CDATA[Touch Bionics i-LIMB Pulse, the Bluetooth bionic hand, makes your meaty one obsolete]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/06/touch-bionics-i-limb-pulse-the-bluetooth-bionic-hand-makes-you/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/06/touch-bionics-i-limb-pulse-the-bluetooth-bionic-hand-makes-you/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/06/touch-bionics-i-limb-pulse-the-bluetooth-bionic-hand-makes-you/#commentsTouch Bionics i-LIMB Pulse, the Bluetooth bionic hand, makes your meaty one obsolete Let's say you got in a fight with your dad. You said some things, he said some things, and then he cut your hand off. Don't go all emo: Touch Bionics has a new product that will have you overthrowing empires again in no time. A successor to the company's revolutionary i-LIMB Hand, the i-LIMB Pulse is a more streamlined version meant to look more natural, also offered in two sizes, and comes complete with Bluetooth that allows prosthetists and users to tweak settings easily. The device's name comes from its "pulsing technology" that boosts strength, enabling it to handle up to 90kg (about 200lbs), which is a lot more than our crippled carpal tunnels can manage these days. The Pulse starts shipping to would-be chosen ones on June 1 -- just in time for Father's Day.

Gallery: Touch Bionics i-LIMB Pulse

Continue reading Touch Bionics i-LIMB Pulse, the Bluetooth bionic hand, makes your meaty one obsolete

Touch Bionics i-LIMB Pulse, the Bluetooth bionic hand, makes your meaty one obsolete originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 May 2010 09:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bionic handBionicHandi-limbi-limb handi-limb pulseI-limbHandI-limbPulseprostheticprosthetic handProstheticHandtouch bionicstouch bionics i-limb pulseTouchBionicsTouchBionicsI-limbPulseThu, 06 May 2010 09:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Energy-recycling foot makes it easier for amputees to walk]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/22/energy-recycling-foot-makes-it-easier-for-amputees-to-walk/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/22/energy-recycling-foot-makes-it-easier-for-amputees-to-walk/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/22/energy-recycling-foot-makes-it-easier-for-amputees-to-walk/#comments What's better than an artificial nose? Why, an artificial foot, of course! University of Michigan researchers have developed a new prosthetic foot that could one day make it much easier for amputees to walk. Put simply, this new prototype drastically cuts the energy spent per step, as it harnesses the energy exerted when taking a step and enhances the power of ankle push-off. The device is able to capture dissipated energy, and an inbuilt microcontroller tells the foot to return the energy to the system at precisely the right time. Tests have shown that those using this here foot spent just 14 percent more energy to walk than one would spend when walking naturally, which is a rather significant decrease from the 23 percent uptick experienced with conventional prostheses. If you're still baffled, there's a pretty wicked video demonstration waiting for you after the break.

Gallery: Energy-recycling foot makes it easier for amputees to walk

Continue reading Energy-recycling foot makes it easier for amputees to walk

Energy-recycling foot makes it easier for amputees to walk originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Feb 2010 09:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amputationamputeeArtificial footArtificialFootenergyexercisefeetfitnessfoothealthmedicalpowerprostheticprototyperecyclerecyclesresearchuniversityuniversity of michiganUniversityOfMichiganwalkwalkingMon, 22 Feb 2010 09:21:00 EST<![CDATA[Touch Bionics offers ProDigits for those missing their amateur ones]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/touch-bionics-offers-prodigits-for-those-missing-their-amateur-o/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/touch-bionics-offers-prodigits-for-those-missing-their-amateur-o/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/touch-bionics-offers-prodigits-for-those-missing-their-amateur-o/#comments Touch Bionics has been at this bionic prosthetics business for a while now, already providing i-Limb solutions to those deprived of the use of their hands or arms. The company's latest innovation is to reduce all that tech down to the level of individual fingers, with its freshly announced ProDigits being able to replace anywhere between one and all of your precious little piggies. Relying on a traditional myoelectric regime -- which reacts to muscle signals from the residual hand -- or pressure from the remnant finger for its input, this invention can even be tweaked by doctors (over Bluetooth) to adjust the finer motor functions on a per patient basis. Costing up to £40,000 ($65,000), these new prosthetics will be custom-built for each person, and there are plans to apply to have them made available through national health insurance -- in countries that are into that sort of thing. Video after the break.

Continue reading Touch Bionics offers ProDigits for those missing their amateur ones

Touch Bionics offers ProDigits for those missing their amateur ones originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 Dec 2009 21:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bionicbionic fingersBionicFingersbionicsbluetoothdigitsdisabilitydisabledfingerslivingskinmedicinemotor-poweredmyoelectriccprodigitsprostheticprosthetic fingersProstheticFingersprostheticssiliconetouch bionicsTouchBionicsTue, 08 Dec 2009 21:09:00 EST<![CDATA[EU scientists develop LifeHand thought-controlled prosthesis]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/03/eu-scientists-develop-lifehand-thought-controlled-prosthesis/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/03/eu-scientists-develop-lifehand-thought-controlled-prosthesis/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/03/eu-scientists-develop-lifehand-thought-controlled-prosthesis/#comments
We've seen plenty of developments in neurology and robotics over the years, including the Smart Hand prosthesis and targeted muscle reinnervation, and now researchers at the Bio-Medical Campus University of Rome have announced LifeHand. Connected via electrodes to an amputee named Pierpaolo Petruzziello, the device is able to perform complex movements and is controlled by thought alone. "It's a matter of mind, of concentration," said Petruzziello. "When you think of it as your hand and forearm, it all becomes easier." The five year project, funded to the tune of about $3 million by the European Union, is just the beginning -- they still have to figure out how to make the implants permanent. Get a closer look below.

Gallery: EU scientists develop LifeHand thought-controlled prosthesis

EU scientists develop LifeHand thought-controlled prosthesis originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Dec 2009 08:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>european unionEuropeanUnionhandhealthmedicinePierpaolo PetruzzielloPierpaoloPetruzzielloprostheticresearchrobotromescienceThu, 03 Dec 2009 08:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: doctors implant tooth into eye, restore sight, creep everyone out]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/22/video-doctors-implant-tooth-into-eye-restore-sight-creep-ever/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/22/video-doctors-implant-tooth-into-eye-restore-sight-creep-ever/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/22/video-doctors-implant-tooth-into-eye-restore-sight-creep-ever/#comments Osteo-odonto-keratoprosthesis. It's a real procedure that really does revive people's ability to see, yet we get the feeling that people will be more, um, excited about how it's done than why it's done. The seemingly Mary Shelley-inspired doctors extract a tooth from a blind person and drill a hole through it, where a prosthetic lens is placed, and the resulting macabre construction is implanted into the blind person's eye. The tooth is necessary as the body would reject an artificial base. It's not at all pretty, and it cannot repair every type of blindness, but it's still a major step forward. To hear from Sharron Thornton, the first American to have undergone the procedure, check the video after the break, but only if you can handle mildly graphic content -- you've been warned.

[Via Daily Tech]

Continue reading Video: doctors implant tooth into eye, restore sight, creep everyone out

Filed under:

Video: doctors implant tooth into eye, restore sight, creep everyone out originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 Sep 2009 06:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bascom palmer eye instituteBascomPalmerEyeInstituteblindblindnesscorneaDr. Victor PerezDr.VictorPerezeyeeyeseyesighthealthimplantlensesmedicalmedicinemookposteo-odonto-keratoprosthesisprostheticprosthetic lensesProstheticLensessightteethtoothtooth implantToothImplantvideoTue, 22 Sep 2009 06:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Brain Carpet microelectrodes could help translate thoughts into actions more effectively]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/31/brain-carpet-microelectrodes-could-help-translate-thoughts-into/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/31/brain-carpet-microelectrodes-could-help-translate-thoughts-into/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/31/brain-carpet-microelectrodes-could-help-translate-thoughts-into/#comments
Researchers at the University of Utah have developed a new, more precise way of placing microelectrodes on the surface of the brain to enable patients to turn thoughts into action. Led by Bradley Greger, a professor of bioengineering, the "Brain Carpet" as it's called, represents a "modest advance" in techniques already in use. The Brain Carpet makes use of smaller microelectrodes, and also employs many more than are usually used. The method involves sawing off the skull of the patient, then placing 32 electrodes about 2mm apart on the surface of the brain. Though they've conducted tests on just a handful of patients -- all epileptics -- the technique, they believe could also be used to help people control their prosthetic limbs much more effectively. The electrodes allow detection of the electric signals in the brain which control arm and hand movements. In the tests, patients have successfully controlled a cursor on a computer screen following the operation, and they see applications for brain-machine interface devices in the future. There's no word on when the Brain Carpet will move from the research to reality phase, but the group's findings have just recently appeared in the journal Neurosurgical Focus.

Filed under:

Brain Carpet microelectrodes could help translate thoughts into actions more effectively originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 31 Jul 2009 20:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bradley gregerBradleyGregerbrainbrain carpetBrainCarpetelectrodesmicroelectrodesprostheticprosthetic limbsProstheticLimbsprostheticsscienceuniversity of utahUniversityOfUtahFri, 31 Jul 2009 20:41:00 EST<![CDATA[Ossur's new POWER KNEE prosthesis sports A.I., motorized actuators]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/21/ossurs-new-power-knee-prosthesis-sports-motorized-actuators-ai/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/21/ossurs-new-power-knee-prosthesis-sports-motorized-actuators-ai/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/21/ossurs-new-power-knee-prosthesis-sports-motorized-actuators-ai/#comments
Perhaps it's a sobering reminder of the world we live in, but we've seen prosthetic technology grow in leaps and bounds over the last couple years. Continuing the upward arc, Ossur has just announced its second generation POWER KNEE device. Developed in partnership with Victhom Human Bionics, the device is billed as "the world's first and only motor-powered, artificially intelligent prosthesis for above-knee amputees." Features include: advanced torque and accelerometer sensors that keep an eye on the ground level and compensate accordingly; actuators that actively lift and stimulate the users own muscles for walking up stairs, inclines and ramps; and what the company is calling its "artificial intelligence" features, which allow the device to "observe the whole state of the respective human-system interface." Currently in use at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, a full commercial release is expected by 2010.

Filed under:

Ossur's new POWER KNEE prosthesis sports A.I., motorized actuators originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Apr 2009 14:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>medicalOssurpower kneePowerKneeprostheticprostheticsVicthom Human BionicsVicthomHumanBionicswalter reedWalterReedTue, 21 Apr 2009 14:43:00 EST<![CDATA[USB finger drive concept attempts to keep up with reality]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/10/usb-finger-drive-concept-attempts-to-keep-up-with-reality/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/10/usb-finger-drive-concept-attempts-to-keep-up-with-reality/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/10/usb-finger-drive-concept-attempts-to-keep-up-with-reality/#comments
Yanko Design is certainly home to many far-fetched, never-to-be-realized gadgets, but this so-called You-SB finger drive isn't one of them. In fact, it's already a bit behind the curve. Apparently, after losing a finger in a motorcycle accident last year, Jerry Jalava took advantage of the situation to get a 2GB USB drive installed in his new prosthetic finger, which he's happy to inform us stores the Billy Linux distribution and the movie Freddy Got Fingered. The drive is even removable to allow for upgrades or different drives for different tasks. Can a pico-projector finger be far behind?

Read - Yanko Design, "You-SB"
Read - Jerry Jalava's Flickr page

[Via Grinding.be]

Filed under: ,

USB finger drive concept attempts to keep up with reality originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Mar 2009 15:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>prostheticprosthetic fingerProstheticFingerusb fingerUsbFingeryankoyanko designYankoDesignTue, 10 Mar 2009 15:52:00 EST<![CDATA[DIY prosthesis all the rage in Tasmania]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/13/diy-prosthesis-all-the-rage-in-tasmania/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/13/diy-prosthesis-all-the-rage-in-tasmania/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/13/diy-prosthesis-all-the-rage-in-tasmania/#comments
When the doctors told amputee Mark Lesek that the severity of his injury made him ineligible for a prosthesis, he refused to give up. Left with nothing but his own welding and engineering business, several hundred thousands of dollars, and an indomitable spirit, the Tasmanian gentleman began the quest for an artificial arm. First, he shopped around until he found a doctor who agreed to order an $80,000 prosthesis from Germany -- which eventually broke down (but not before he shelled out $6,000 for repairs on the thing). His next stop was the Branemark Osseointegration Centre in Sweden, where he was fitted with an $80,000 bolt that works as a sort of "artificial shoulder." Still unable to find a suitable arm, the guy teamed up with one of his employees to design and build his own lightweight magnesium "body powered" prosthesis. But that's not all -- he's also working with the University of Tasmania to develop a more agile computer-controlled arm, controlled with "a cap with electrodes which will be interfaced into the computer." Let's hope that all his hard work pays off -- and that he teaches those doctors a thing or two in the process.

[Via Switched]

Filed under:

DIY prosthesis all the rage in Tasmania originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Feb 2009 22:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artificial armArtificialArmaustraliaBranemark Osseointegration CentreBranemarkOsseointegrationCentrefriday13Mark LesekMarkLesekprostheticprosthetic armprosthetic limbsprostheticarmProstheticLimbsprostheticstazmaniaFri, 13 Feb 2009 22:47:00 EST<![CDATA[Immaculate prosthetic limb concept makes combines fun again]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/10/immaculate-prosthetic-limb-concept-makes-combines-fun-again/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/10/immaculate-prosthetic-limb-concept-makes-combines-fun-again/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/10/immaculate-prosthetic-limb-concept-makes-combines-fun-again/#comments
We never thought it would it come to this, but damn if that image above doesn't make the idea of having a prosthetic limb attractive. A pang first felt at the sight of Oscar Pistorius' Cheetah prosthetics is now fully engorged with visions of reckless play around farm equipment. The concept "immaculate" from Hans Alexander Huseklepp explores the idea of turning a handicap into a high-performance, cybernetic fashion statement. The neurological prosthetic is clad in technology-packed corian plates with dome-joints that offer a larger degree of freedom than that motherly-issued arm of yours. So enough with the flesh-colored plastics already, this is the biomechatronic future of the proud naturoid we'd like to see. Hell, we have to do something now that tattoos and piercings have gone mainstream.

Continue reading Immaculate prosthetic limb concept makes combines fun again

Filed under:

Immaculate prosthetic limb concept makes combines fun again originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Feb 2009 06:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>armconceptcorianimmaculateprostheticTue, 10 Feb 2009 06:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: Teenager's new i-LIMB prosthetic hand is super cool]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/video-teenagers-new-i-limb-prosthetic-hand-is-super-cool/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/video-teenagers-new-i-limb-prosthetic-hand-is-super-cool/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/video-teenagers-new-i-limb-prosthetic-hand-is-super-cool/#comments
We've seen the i-LIMB plenty in the past, but we have to say that seeing it in action -- newly installed on teenager Evan Reynolds -- is pretty impressive. The prosthetic is so sensitive that Reynolds can grip a small bottle of water, no problem. We assure you: it's pretty cool.

Filed under:

Video: Teenager's new i-LIMB prosthetic hand is super cool originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Jan 2009 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>evan reynoldsEvanReynoldshandi-limbilimblimbprostheticprostheticsThu, 22 Jan 2009 13:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Oscar Pistorius fails to qualify for the Olympics]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/oscar-pitorius-fails-to-qualify-for-the-olympics/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/oscar-pitorius-fails-to-qualify-for-the-olympics/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/18/oscar-pitorius-fails-to-qualify-for-the-olympics/#comments
It seems like the endless legal struggle to be allowed to compete in the Olympics took its toll on cyborg sprinter Oscar Pistorious -- he didn't qualify for the South African Olympic team on Wednesday, after failing to run the 400 under the 45.55 second minimum required to make the trip to Beijing. Interestingly, Pistorious's 46.25-second time was his best ever, even though critics claimed that the double-amputee's "Cheetah" prosthetics allowed him to use only 25 percent of the energy used by traditional runners. That's not the last we'll see of Oscar, though -- he says he's happy with his season's results, and he'll be back to try out for the 2012 Games in London.

Filed under:

Oscar Pistorius fails to qualify for the Olympics originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 Jul 2008 19:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cheetaholympicsoscar pistoriousOscarPistoriousprostheticprostheticsFri, 18 Jul 2008 19:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Researchers devise neural implant that learns over time]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/25/researchers-devise-neural-implant-that-learns-over-time/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/25/researchers-devise-neural-implant-that-learns-over-time/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/25/researchers-devise-neural-implant-that-learns-over-time/#comments
Brain-machine interfaces have done quite a bit in helping handicapped individuals interact with prosthetic limbs, computers and other humans, but a new neural implant concocted at the University of Florida could make all those past devices look archaic. Put simply, researchers have discovered a method that would enable brain-machine interfaces to "adapt to a person's behavior over time and use the knowledge to help complete a task more efficiently." Until now, the brain was the instrument doing all the talking while the computer simply accepted commands; with this method, "the computer could have a say in that conversation, too." In all seriousness, this type of learning mechanism could be game-changing in the world of physical therapy, but we hesitate to give something mechanical inside of our body too much free will, ya dig?

[Via Physorg]

Filed under:

Researchers devise neural implant that learns over time originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Jun 2008 09:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BCIbrainbrain-computer interfaceBrain-computerInterfacebrain-machine interfaceBrain-machineInterfacefloridahandicaphandicappedmindparalyzedprostheticprostheticsresearchscienceUniversityUniversity of floridaUniversityOfFloridaWed, 25 Jun 2008 09:48:00 EST<![CDATA[Tensegrity prosthetic foot promises to make walking easier]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/20/tensegrity-prosthetic-foot-promises-to-make-walking-easier/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/20/tensegrity-prosthetic-foot-promises-to-make-walking-easier/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/20/tensegrity-prosthetic-foot-promises-to-make-walking-easier/#comments
It may not boast built-in Bluetooth or an array of sensors and motors, but inventor Jerome Rifkin says his so-called Tensegrity prosthetic foot can nonetheless give amputees a more natural gait and make it easier for them to walk across difficult terrain. That's apparently possible thanks to a unique but simple mid-foot joint, which takes the place of the ankle joint more commonly found in prosthetic feet and creates a flexible arch in the middle of the foot. A range of springs and tensioned cables are used to control it and a second joint at the toe, which simply respond to the natural pressure of walking and adapt to uneven terrain. As you can see for yourself in the video of the most recent prototype after the break, that setup appears to work remarkably well, and Rifkin has even thankfully managed to tone down some of the squeaking noise that plagued earlier prototypes.

Continue reading Tensegrity prosthetic foot promises to make walking easier

Filed under: ,

Tensegrity prosthetic foot promises to make walking easier originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Jun 2008 17:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>prostheticprosthetic footProstheticFoottensegrityFri, 20 Jun 2008 17:41:00 EST<![CDATA[Bluetooth-equipped prosthetic legs help double amputee walk again]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/25/bluetooth-equipped-prosthetic-legs-help-double-amputee-walk-agai/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/25/bluetooth-equipped-prosthetic-legs-help-double-amputee-walk-agai/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/25/bluetooth-equipped-prosthetic-legs-help-double-amputee-walk-agai/#comments
As we've seen, there's plenty of different solutions out there for controlling prosthetic limbs, but the artificial legs now helping Marine Lance Cpl. Joshua Bleill walk certainly have to rank up there with the most inventive, and they don't even rely on brain control. Instead, the legs employ tried and true Bluetooth technology, which has previously been used to allow a single prothestic leg to mimic the individual's other leg but, in this case, is being use to allow one prosthetic leg to mimic the other. To control them, Bleill simply applies force with his thigh muscles to get things moving or slow them down, with built-in motors in the legs allowing him to walk longer without getting tired. As you can see in the video available courtesy of CNN at the read link below, that setup appears to work remarkably well, and Bleill hopes he'll soon get to the point where he needs just one cane before eventually ditching them altogether.

Filed under: ,

Bluetooth-equipped prosthetic legs help double amputee walk again originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 25 Jan 2008 14:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artificial legArtificialLegbluetoothprostheticprosthetic legsProstheticLegsFri, 25 Jan 2008 14:34:00 EST<![CDATA[Targeted muscle reinnervation enables your brain to control prosthetic limbs]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/13/targeted-muscle-reinnervation-enables-your-brain-to-control-pros/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/13/targeted-muscle-reinnervation-enables-your-brain-to-control-pros/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/13/targeted-muscle-reinnervation-enables-your-brain-to-control-pros/#comments
If you're suddenly overcome with an eerie feeling of déjà vu, fret not, as this idea has certainly been brainstormed before. As scientists aim to make prosthetic limbs more user-friendly, a certain physiatrist at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago and professor at Northwestern University has developed a technique that enables artificial arms to react directly to the brain's thoughts. The process, dubbed targeted muscle reinnervation (TMR), works by rewiring residual nerves that once carried information to the now-lost appendage to the chest; when the person thinks to move their arm, the chest muscle contracts, and with the help of an electromyogram (EMG), the signal is "directed to a microprocessor in the artificial arm which decodes the data and tells the arm what to do." Currently, "only" four movements are possible after the procedure, but studies are already in full swing to determine if TMR could be used to bless future patients with an even fuller of range of motion.

[Image courtesy of ScienceDaily]

Filed under:

Targeted muscle reinnervation enables your brain to control prosthetic limbs originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Nov 2007 09:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>braindisabledhandicappedhealthmuscleneural prostheticNeuralProstheticprostheticprostheticssciencetargeted muscle reinnervationTargetedMuscleReinnervationthinkthinkingtmrtouchTue, 13 Nov 2007 09:38:00 EST<![CDATA[MIT conjures up algorithm for neural prosthetic device]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/mit-conjures-up-algorithm-for-neural-prosthetic-device/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/mit-conjures-up-algorithm-for-neural-prosthetic-device/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/mit-conjures-up-algorithm-for-neural-prosthetic-device/#commentsA team of MIT researchers have crafted "a new algorithm to help create prosthetic devices that convert brain signals into action in patients who have been paralyzed or had limbs amputated." Essentially, neural prosthetic devices "represent an engineer's approach to treating paralysis and amputation," and this particular process utilizes a method called graphical models which represents the "mathematical relationship" between what a human attempts to do and the "neural manifestation" of that goal. Granted, even the gurus hard at work on this stuff admit that it's quite a ways from being pushed out to the public, but there's already plans in place to convert the algorithm into a usable device in due time.

[Via CNET, image courtesy of MIT]

Filed under: ,

MIT conjures up algorithm for neural prosthetic device originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Oct 2007 21:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>algorithmhealthmedicalMITneural prostheticNeuralProstheticparalyzedprostheticThu, 04 Oct 2007 21:48:00 EST<![CDATA[Winter the dolphin gets fitted with prosthetic tail]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/29/winter-the-dolphin-gets-fitted-with-prosthetic-tail/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/29/winter-the-dolphin-gets-fitted-with-prosthetic-tail/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/29/winter-the-dolphin-gets-fitted-with-prosthetic-tail/#commentsIt's been a while since we last heard about a dolphin getting fitted with an artificial tail, but it looks like Fuji finally has some new bionic company, with Winter the dolphin now starting to get used to a prosthetic tail of its own. Unlike Fuji, Winter lost her both her tail flukes and her peduncle, which posed additional problems for the team of researchers that developed the tail, ultimately requiring them to "MacGyver" one as they went along (a term the researchers themselves used to describe it). While it's apparently not perfected just yet, Winter has started to learn to swim with a prosthetic sleeve, which will eventually be outfitted with artificial tail flukes that could allow it to keep pace with other dolphins. In addition to helping Winter, the researchers behind the tail say that the lessons learned from it could also help human amputees, with the gel sleeve used to hold the tail into place apparently already adapted for use with a human prosthesis.

[Photo courtesy of AP]

Filed under:

Winter the dolphin gets fitted with prosthetic tail originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Aug 2007 10:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artificial tailArtificialTaildolphinprosthesisprostheticprosthetic tailProstheticTailWed, 29 Aug 2007 10:21:00 EST<![CDATA[Festo's fluidic muscles make us all look weak]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/24/festos-fluidic-muscles-make-us-all-look-weak/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/24/festos-fluidic-muscles-make-us-all-look-weak/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/24/festos-fluidic-muscles-make-us-all-look-weak/#comments
Yeah, we've seen some pretty fancy robotic arm work already this year, but Festo is out to show 'em all up with its fluidic muscle-packin' Airic's_arm. This robotic prosthesis sports a "bone structure" which mimics that found on a real live human, and can be moved via the 30 "muscles" built within. Essentially, Festo's approach to movement relies on "an elastomer tube reinforced by aramid fibers, which contract quickly and exert a pulling force when they're filled with a blast of compressed air or liquid." Of course, you'll notice it doesn't offer quite the same range as less bionic alternatives, but this thing's pretty accurate, indeed. Check it out for yourself, the video's right down there.

[Via DesignNews]
Read - Festo's Airic's_arm
Read - Video of Airic's_arm in action

Filed under:

Festo's fluidic muscles make us all look weak originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Aug 2007 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AiricAiric’s_armarmFestofluidic muscleFluidicMusclemusclesprostheticprostheticsrobotic armRoboticArmvideoFri, 24 Aug 2007 10:29:00 EST