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Fans of the Bionic Man TV series, with Lee Majors starring as Colonel Steve Austin, can remember him ripping apart fences and tearing down doors with his bionic arms, as well as leaping over huge obstacles with his bionic legs. Even though we knew we were watching fiction, the program gave hope to many people who had lost a limb -- at least to people I knew. They believed that one day, because of bionic advancements, they would feel whole and useful again. The field of bionics has grown since the days of The Bionic Man series. And yes, a bionic arm now exists. While it's not strong enough to tear down fences or to break through doors, it's strong enough for physical labor, for attending to personal hygiene, for driving a car, or throwing a baseball. It's also flexible enough to operate a keyboard or swing a baseball bat. The key to its performance is the bionic elbow, and one of the best on the market today is the Boston Elbow. It has made a difference in the lives of many using it. Recently, I talked to one happy user -- George Mandelson, a 36-year-old computer programmer who lives just outside Scranton, Pa. "I have been using the Boston Elbow for several years, and my life has returned to normal," Mandelson says. He lost much of his arm four years ago in a work-related incident, when a steel cabinet fell against him during a move, crushing his limb against a wall. Sadly, an estimated 40,000 people lose a limb annually in the U.S. AMPLIFIED SIGNALS. The Boston Elbow used by Mandelson supports
elbow, wrist, and hand functions. It is myoelectrically controlled,
that is, three small socket-mounted sensors rest against the skin
surface, picking up the electrical signals produced when a muscle
is contracted. The myoelectrodes amplify the signals and transmit
them to a circuit controlling the speed and direction of the prosthesis.
The prosthesis moves faster or slower according to the strength
of the user's muscle contraction.
The device is powered by brushless motor that can lift more than
nine pounds actively -- and 50 pounds if locked in place. A dual-purpose
coupling ring in the upper arm rotates one way for quick disconnection
and the other way to adjust for friction.
Mandelson says when's he is wearing the elbow, he's hardly conscious
of his loss. People don't stare at him the way they did years ago
when they saw him with an empty sleeve. People don't feel sorry
for him now because they see what he can do with a prosthetic arm.
He now can use both hands working with a computer keyboard and mouse. QUICK-CHANGE JOB. The elbow uses a rechargeable nickel-cadmium
battery that regularly lasts about 10 hours -- and about 8 hours
with heavy use. To keep himself always at the ready, he has battery
chargers in his home, car, and office. That way, two batteries are
being charged always. A snap-off/snap-on forearm cover allows him
to change batteries quickly. When people see him change a battery
for the first time, he says, they're astounded. Many recall scenes
of work being done on Steve Austin's arm in the TV series.
Since the elbow has a clutch, Mandelson can lock it into position
whenever he rests. It will automatically move again when power is
restored to the motor. Being able to lock the elbow adds daily life
to the battery, he says.
When asked, "How long did it take you to learn to feel comfortable
with the elbow?" With a smile, Mandelson responds, "Nearly 10 months.
After all, it comes with other components such as grippers and wrist
rotators." But now that he has mastered all the functions, he doesn't
think about operating it at all. It responds naturally to all his
movements.
"I know other amputees who are using different bionic arms. They
work fine for them. But not for me," says Mandelson. "This one has
more grip to it, and it's easy to put on and take off. It looks
more natural than most prosthetics. I can hold a newspaper, a book,
a cup of coffee, and I have a lot of wrist action."
What does having the elbow mean to him? He shouts: "Independence.
Freedom. Feeling whole again." PRICEY ARM. The Boston Elbow is favored by men more than
women, and by computer programmers, teachers, lawyers, and writers
because of its flexibility. Based in Hopkinton, Mass., Liberty Technology
sells the elbow to prosthetic practitioners, who then customize
it for the patient. The price for this prosthetic arm system: $30,000
plus any additional components such as hands, wrists, and grippers.
But most company insurance plans pay all costs. It's more economical
for companies to return an employee to work than it is to keep the
person on either short- or long-term disability.
Liberty sells 50 to 100 elbows annually, a company spokesman says.
A new generation of the arm -- the Digital Boston Elbow -- is scheduled
for rollout next year. Existing Boston Elbows are upgradeable to
the digitized system, which provides the user with more flexibility,
improved control, and longer durability.
For more information about the Boston Elbow, call (508) 435-9061. |
