Recently in technology Category

I remember at the age of 14 being afraid to call the pizza man for fear I wouldn't speak clearly or get our family's dinner order incorrect. I can't imagine having enough gumption to ask, for example, Mercedes-Benz to pick up the tab for, hypothetically, a bionic hand.

14-year old Matthew James was born without a left hand. He dreamed of having a sophisticated bionic hand, but his family couldn't afford the $43,000. But a chance meeting with Ross Brawn gave Matthew a life-changing experience: a new hand, for free.

He wrote to Ross Brawn, the man in charge of the Mercedes GP Petronas team, after Brawn visited his school in Berkshire, England. Matthew asked the F1 team to help his family raise the money, and even offered to have the hand sponsored by Mercedes-Benz to compensate. A member of the team reached out to Touch Bionics, a Scottish company specializing in advanced medical devices. They waived the cost of installing the hand and training Matthew on how to use it, while Mercedes was kind enough to cover the rest. And the hand is advanced enough for an F1 team: it features five individual motors, allowing each finger to move independently. The F1 team and Touch Bionics have agreed to share technology that could benefit both organizations.

Touch Bionics just introduced i-LIMB, a significant advance for the product line, with a host of enhancements including pulsing grip strength, multiple software-enabled grip patterns and robust aluminum features for improved user confidence. The i-LIMB Pulse joins a family of products that has been fitted to more than 1,200 patients worldwide.

The version received by the kid has a see-through outer-shell and will get a little Mercedes badge by the wrist. Meanwhile, after touring the Mercedes factory and meeting Michael Schumacher, Matthew now hopes to pursue a career as an engineer with F1.

Here Matthew explains the mechanics of his gifted hand.

I'm always so intrigued and amazed when I see such incredible technological advances such as this. It is especially mind-blowing when I see such cutting-edge devices created by two bright college students. This innovation in prosthetics will revolutionize the way we aid injured workers on their road to recovery.
 
Two Ryerson University undergraduate biomedical engineering students are changing the world of medical prosthetics with a newly developed prosthetic arm that is controlled by brain signals. The Artificial Muscle-Operated (AMO) Arm not only enables amputees more range of movement as compared to other prosthetic arms but it allows amputees to avoid invasive surgeries and could potentially save hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Developed by third-year student Thiago Caires and second-year student Michal Prywata, the AMO Arm is controlled by the brain and uses compressed air as the main source of power. The digital device makes use of signals in the brain that continue to fire even after a limb is amputated. 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. This is such a unique aspect to this device. It only makes sense that struggling college students are wallet-conscious!

It took a year to develop the software program for the AMO Arm while the actual prototype was created during a marathon 72-hour design session. Although they are still students, Prywata and Caires are moving ahead on the commercialization of their innovations. They have formed their own company, Bionik Laboratories Inc., and are currently seeking three patents for the AMO Arm and their other technologies. Their recent acceptance into Ryerson's home of innovation and commercialization: the Digital Media Zone (DMZ) will help them in achieving these goals. These brilliant student's work was also featured at the 2011 American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) IShow, designed to showcase student's innovative designs, and provides high-profile exposure that these student's concepts might not otherwise receive.

In future, they plan to develop the AMO Arm further by making it able to sense different materials (e.g., an egg versus a full bottle of water) and adjust the applied force proportionately.

Check out this fascinatned video from creators and students, Michal Prywata and Thiago Caires, as they quickly explain the arm:

Wound V.A.C. (Vacuum Assisted Closure) Treatment is a therapy used widely within the workers’ comp and healthcare world. It’s known to expedite the healing process, essentially returning an injured worker back to work or a familiar way of life sooner. However, it’s equally important to understand how V.A.C. Therapy works deep inside the wound to achieve these outcomes.

V.A.C. Therapy provides negative pressure wound therapy for applications ranging from severe wounds and grafts/flaps to post-surgical incision management. The variety of V.A.C. Dressing configurations enhances ease-of-application and reduces the need for dressing changes to only every 48-72 hours. The durability and portability of the battery-powered V.A.C. Therapy System enables patients to receive treatment during ambulation or other arrangements.

KCI offers a wide range of clinically proven, economically beneficial wound healing therapies and technologies designed to deliver positive outcomes for patients and healthcare professionals. They even have a branch designed for veteranarian use — KCI Animal Health.

We are used to seeing this used for injured workers, but interestingly enough, this technology was repurposed to save the life of a sea turtle after sustaining two propeller injuries - and even shortened his healing time.

Whenever you need a good cry, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition never fails. Their stories are so touching and uplifting, you can't help but to be moved to tears. This past Sunday's episode was no different. This episode featured the Hall Family from Kansas. The family of six was hit hard by tragedy on June 26, 2010, when a car accident left dad, Carl, paralyzed from the shoulders down, leaving him a quadriplegic. Wheelchair bound for the rest of his life, Carl depended on Sip-n-Puff technology to maneuver.

Carl was a baseball star at Wichita State, and later went on to play semi-professional baseball and coach his son's baseball team. The accident robbed him of his passion and the special bond of baseball with his son, Logan. Brent Bushnell of Syyn Labs worked with the design team to create a special machine that would allow him to use sip-n-puff technology to control a pitching machine to make it possible for him to pitch to Logan again.

"Sip-n-puff is like mores code. A long puff and a short puff mean something. Stitch them together to create its own little language" says Brent. "When creating this special machine, we designed it to recognize one short puff to control speeds, and one long puff sets it up to fire the ball." This ultimately allowed Carl to pitch either a fast ball, curve ball, slide ball, etc. to Logan. "I never thought it would be possible to pitch to my son again" Carl said with such appreciation for returning to his two biggest loves - baseball and his son. "I'm actually playing sports with my Dad again. It makes me so happy" exclaimed Logan.

It's amazing to see such a deserving family receive what they need to help them move forward from such a tragedy. They have such a great perspective on life - turning lemons into lemonade. "We're just making lemonade", explained Carl, "you get handed something that may not be the best, but you can do something with it." To remind the family daily of their lemonade story, the design team completed their home with a bright yellow, lemonade-themed kitchen. Incredibly inspiring.

To see the full episode, click here - I highly recommend it!

Here's a success story we couldn't pass up sharing. A four-year-old miniature horse in Texas named Midnite surpassed expectations when he received a $14,000 prosthetic leg. Ranch Hand Rescue, a non-profit organization that rescues ranch animals in distressed situations, acquired Midnite after law enforcement removed him from a neglectful owner. "Midnite was in really bad shape," said Bob Williams, who runs the animal farm. "I would say critical condition."

The ranch contacted a local Fort Worth company, Prosthetic Care, who was eager to help and up for the challenge. "Prosthetic care had never built a leg before, they'd built them for humans but they'd never build them for horses," Williams said. What happened next exceeded the expectations of Williams and the rest of the Ranch Hand Rescue staff. "Our hope was that with a prosthetic leg he would be able to walk and be out in the pasture with the other horses and just enjoy being a horse," Williams recalled, "When he ran and when he jumped we all cried, it was just the most amazing thing I'd ever seen in my life."

Check out Midnite's galloping success in this heart-warming video below:

It's always encouraging to hear of advances that help to restore a person's identity that they once knew before their life-altering injury.

RealLifeProsthetics is an organization devoted to improving the quality of life for individuals affected by disfiguration and amputation through the sensitive replication of natural anatomy. Michael Scarzello-Kaczkowski, BFA, Director of Alloplastics, has over 20 years experience in alloplastic/anaplastology reconstruction. He is an artist, inventor, and prosthetic skin technology pioneer. RealLifeProsthetics specializes in prosthetic eyes, fingers, hands, arms, feet and legs.

What's particularly interesting is RealLifeSkin, a branch of RealLifeProsthetics that specializes in prosthetic skin. What's unique about their approach to prosthetics is the revolutionizing prosthetic-alloplastic technology. This technology is not just prosthetic skin, but an entire process that is adaptable for fabrication into alloplastic and prosthetic devices as small as a fingertip or as large as entire leg. 
In real human skin, the epidermis layer has fingertips and skin detail; it also contains pigment called melanin. When the skin is exposed to the sun, more melanin is created to help counteract the damaging rays of the sun.

Likewise, RealLifeSkin's epidermis skin layer contains remarkably realistic fingerprints and skin detail along with a simulated melanin. When an amputee wearing a RealLifeSkin prosthesis gets a tan on their real skin, they can be supplied with "prosthetic melanin: so that the prosthesis can be made to match their new tan. Each user is able to apply it directly on the prosthesis where it is absorbed immediately into the epidermis layer. Each subsequent rubbing of the tanner makes the RealLifeSkin gradually dark.

Check out this brief video of a RealLifeSkin recipient successfully typing with the use of his prosthetic. He states that the typing experience, given the very low weight of the arm, is extremely comfortable.

It's always difficult to see anyone battle with an unexpected injury, but it is especially gut-wrenching when it's a child.

Caden Epps was only 2 years old when he was involved in a tragic accident in March 2010 leaving him paralyzed from the neck down. Little Caden darted out into traffic on a busy road and was struck by an oncoming vehicle. He was quickly airlifted to Halifax Medical Center in Daytona, FL and later transferred to Shands Children's Hospital in Gainesville, FL. The surgery to fuse together his 1st four vertebrae was a success, however, his recovery efforts would be long and very costly, as you can imagine.

Once the community heard of this unfortunate story, they quickly rallied behind the family in an effort to raise funds for Caden to get the help he needed -- and deserved! The Orlando Rage, a local semi-professional football team owned by Christopher Morrison of Pratt & Morrison, PA, held a charity game to raise funds for his rehabilitation therapy and for a special therapeutic chair -- none of which would be otherwise covered by insurance. Caden's father, Chad Epps, is also a player for the Rage.

After a successful fundraising event, Total Mobility and Modifications, TMS' sister company who also works with private pay, was contacted to help fulfill the need for Caden's new "toy" -- a mobile stander. Caden was "super stoked" when he first got into the chair. In addition to the benefits of standing, he was also able to move around and interact with other kids.

Here's a video of our Assistive Technology Specialist, Chris Rea, as he helped Caden into his chair for the first time. 

Step It Up Recovery, in Sanford, FL came along side the Epps family to continue the intense therapy Caden needed. Because of their efforts, Caden has regained the use of his arms -- something doctors said would be impossible.

To make a donation to Step It Up for Caden, simply visit their website.

See some of the remarkable progress in this video of Caden running on a treadmill with the help of the dedicated staff at Step It Up. Grab a few tissues before hitting play!

At the Assistive Technology Industry Association Conference in Orlando, Hank Torres of Round Rock, Texas, set the Guinness World Record for the fast hands-free typing. He became a quadriplegic almost 30 years ago after a hang-gliding accident.

"The razor-toothed piranhas of the genera Serrasalmus and Pygocentrus are the most ferocious freshwater fish in the world. In reality they seldom attack a human."

This is the very phrase Hank had to master to set the record at 83.09 seconds.

Hank had some pretty innovative computer products to help guide him to this victory.

TrackerPro is a computer input device that takes the place of a mouse for individuals with little or no hand movement. It looks similar to a webcam and follows a small dot placed on the user's forehead, glasses or hat. TrackerPro is dedicated assistive technology designed exclusively for people with limited use of their hands. Swype provides to input text on any screen by recognizing one continuous finger or stylus motion across the keyboard.

What makes Hank's usage of this technology so unique is his choice of "stylus" -- a Sip-Puff mouth switch. "I'm not only handicapped; I'm handi-capable" Hank says thanks to the technology. Witness this impressive accomplishment in the video below.

Chris Rea, rehabilitation specialist for Total Medical Solutions (TMS) has earned the highest certification possible in complex rehabilitation. Chris recently achieved certification as a Seating and Mobility Specialist (SMS) through Rehabilitation Engineering Society of North America (RESNA). The SMS certification can only be achieved by an Assistive Technology Professional (ATP) who specializes in the comprehensive seating, positioning and mobility needs of individuals with disabilities.

Cara Barde, President of TMS had this to say, "Chris has achieved the highest certification possible in complex rehab; only 24 people in the world have achieved it, and he is the first in Florida to achieve this distinctive certification. We are very proud that Chris is a member of the TMS family and it is further proof of our commitment to being the top complex care provider in the workers' compensation industry." Read more about Chris Rea's certification.

TMS Blog Earns Top 25 Honor by LexisNexis

And last week, the very blog you are reading was awarded the distinct honor from LexisNexis by being named as one of the "Top 25 Blogs for Workers' Compensation and Workplace Issues." The author, yours truly, is very humbled and honored to have achieved such a distinctive honor for Total Medical Solutions' Work Comp Complex Care Blog in our very first year. A big "thank you!" to the community members, editors and Larson's National Workers' Compensation Advisory Board for recognizing us. See the complete LexisNexis Top 25 2010 Honoree list and bookmark those other blogs!