Someday, robotic prostheses and exoskeletons
might be so commonplace that amputees will no longer have to use
something that resembles a suction cup on a stick. In the interim,
though, there's ITAP. The technology, which stands for intraosseous
transcutaneous amputation prosthesis, is a type of prosthetic that plugs
right into an amputee's bone. This allows them to actually
feel
that artificial limb and walk like they normally would with two healthy
legs, and it also prevents chafing and skin issues common among those
who use prostheses. For ITAP to organically merge with one's bones, its
creators from the University of London and the Royal National
Orthopaedic Hospital drew inspiration from deer antlers. Like antlers,
the metal part sticking into the bone is porous, inviting soft tissue to
invade it and seal any surface or opening that could be infected by
bacteria.
The RNOH and the Royal Orthopaedic hospital in
Birmingham just finished its first set of trials in July, where they
implanted ITAPs into 20 above-the-knee amputees. Many of the testers
reported a better quality of life ever since getting the prosthetic.
Mark O'Leary, who got his ITAP implant in 2008, says he can feel
everything with the limb and has even conquered Mount Kilimanjaro, among
other mountains and hiking spots, since then. You'll seriously feel
lazy once you read up on
his adventures.
It'll take another 12 to 18 months before the researchers and ITAP's
manufacturer, Stanford Implants, can get the trial's results. If
successful, ITAP will be deployed to more hospitals across the UK.
Sadly, it still has to get the FDA's approval before it can make its way
stateside and be of use to many veterans and other American amputees.
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