Deer antlers show us how to develop better prosthetics
So Rudolph’s good for TWO things.
Looking at how deer antlers grow through the outer layer of skin without inviting infection has shown two scientists at The Centre for Biomedical Engineering, University College London, how to attach titanium directly to bone and have it protrude through the skin’s surface without… inviting infection. Obviously, having a titanium rod poking out of your skin that is anchored directly to bone underneath would be extremely helpful for attaching a prosthetic device.
Dr. Paul Wynn from Stanmore Implants Worldwide collaborated with them on the study.
Paul says-
“The mobility of tissue is a big factor; you don’t want the tissue to rip away from the piece of metal, so you need a structure under the skin that will allow the dermal tissues to attach into the metal.
“What we had seen in the deer antlers was that it is very much to do with the structure and shape of the bone, and the porosity of the bone.
A cringe-inducing image and full article after the jump.
Bionic Limb Breakthrough Made (pops)
You know you want to see it, click through.
Technorati Tags: prosthetics, biotech, amputee, BBC, U.K.
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POSTED IN: Gear, Medicine, Technology
2 opinions for Deer antlers show us how to develop better prosthetics
Tommy
Jul 7, 2006 at 6:03 pm
I think this just gets us closer to the android dream. They’ve been making lots of progress with prosthetics that can pick up your brain patterns and move how you want them to.
I look forward to the day when I can leap 80 feet into the air and land at a full sprint. A SUPER sprint, that is, approaching 50 miles per hour (or faster if you can remove the governor).
mam885
Jul 8, 2006 at 2:53 pm
Holy crap. I want to be on Tommy’s team. He’s going to be a millionaire before he’s 26. I can just sense it.
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