Prosthetics are devices that replace a missing body part. They can be used to restore function or cosmesis. Prosthetics are generally categorized by the type of device they replace: arm, leg, hand, foot, etc. The first prosthetic devices were probably simple wooden peg legs and crude hooks. Today’s prosthetics are very sophisticated and may use computer controlled motors and sensors to provide naturalistic movement and sensation.
The word “prosthesis” comes from the Greek πρόσθεσις (prósthesis), meaning “addition”, and refers to an artificial extension that replaces a missing body part. The term is also used more broadly to refer to any device that helps compensate for a disability, such as hearing aids, eyeglasses, or dental implants.
Early History
The first known prosthetic devices were simple wooden peg legs used by early humans. Other early prosthetics include crude hooks which were used in place of lost hands. It is likely that these early devices were quite uncomfortable and had limited functionality. However, they allowed people with disabilities to continue to lead relatively active lives.
Modern History
The modern history of prosthetics begins in the 16th century with Ambroise Paré, a French surgeon who is considered the father of modern surgery. Paré developed several new techniques for treating injuries and diseases including amputation and trauma surgery. He also designed several new types of prosthetic devices including articulated hands and arms which could be operated using strings or springs (known as “passive” devices) as well as rudimentary mechanical fingers which could be opened and closed using muscle contractions (known as “active” devices). These advances helped make prosthetics more functional but they still had many limitations. For example, passive devices required someone else to operate them while active devices only had limited dexterity due to their primitive design..It wasn’t until the late 19th century that major breakthroughs began being made in the field of prosthetics thanks to advances in materials science and engineering.. One of the most important innovations was the development of vulcanized rubber which made it possible to create comfortable sockets for amputees without irritating their skin.. Another significant advancement was the introduction of aluminum alloys which made it possible to create lighter weight yet stronger limbs.. In terms of functionality, perhaps the most important innovation was myoelectric control which uses electrical signals from muscles to control artificial limbs.. This technology allows users much greater control over their movements than previous generations of prosthetics.. Myoelectric control is still imperfect however; for example, users often have difficulty performing tasks that require precise fingertip control such as typing on a keyboard.. Despite these limitations though myoelectric limbs are currently considered state-of-the-art and offer users unprecedented levels of mobility and independence.. With continued research it is hoped that future generations will be able even more realistic levels of function.. For example researchers are currently working on developing bionic eyes which would restore some level sightedness lost due blindness or other eye injuries/conditions… There has also been recent progress towards creating artificial intelligence powered robotic limbs which can learn mimic human movements even more effectively than current myoelectric models… It seems clear then that there no longer any reason why people with disabilities should be limited what they can achieve thanks ever improving technology available today