Bionic arm: A pioneering union between man and machine

Although prosthetics have been used for centuries, current options remain uncomfortable and have limited and unreliable functionality.

In fact, some patients prefer not to use them at all. But a team of scientists in Gothenburg have been working on a cutting-edge bionic limb that could transform the field of prosthetics.

Lead professor, Dr Rickard Branemark, and team leader Max Ortiz Catalan, have developed a new way to attach prosthetics.

The new technology involves a titanium implant being surgically inserted into the bone in a process known as osseointegration. Electrodes are then implanted straight into the remaining arm muscles and nerves. The prosthesis is then controlled by the patient’s thoughts.

On top of that, Max Ortiz and his team have also developed a way to send signals the other way from the arm to the brain.

This allows those using the prosthesis to receive sensation from their hand, which gives them far more control over what they are holding and feeling. This is one of the most cutting-edge prosthetic advancements in the world today.

Dr Joff Lacey travels to Sweden to see how a new prosthetic is creating a pioneering union between man and machine.