FDA Approves Luke Skywalker’s Prosthetic Arm
- 10 years ago
The FDA has approved a high functioning prosthetic arm its creators have dubbed the ‘Luke’, a nod to the replacement Luke Skywalker received in the ‘Empire Strikes Back’.
The FDA has approved a high functioning prosthetic arm its creators have dubbed ‘Luke’, a nod to the replacement Luke Skywalker received in ‘Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back’.
Officially it’s called The DEKA Arm, and was created by the DEKA Research and Development Corporation, funded by DARPA as part of their "Revolutionizing Prosthetics" program.
Years ago, DARPA, as the research branch of the U.S. Department of Defense, began this initiative devoted to advancing prosthetic technology.
40 million dollars was invested, and the result is a mind-controlled appendage.
It’s outfitted with sensors that pick up signals from muscle contractions where it is connected to the human arm and a computer than translates those pulses into refined movements.
In trials, users were able to use zippers and keys as well as pick up delicate objects like eggs without harming them.
Studies performed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs showed that the device is able to mediate and perform up to 10 tasks at a time.
Said a spokesperson for the FDA, "The DEKA Arm System may allow some people to perform more complex tasks than they can with current prostheses in a way that more closely resembles the natural motion of the arm."
Pricing and availability estimates have yet to be determined.
The FDA has approved a high functioning prosthetic arm its creators have dubbed ‘Luke’, a nod to the replacement Luke Skywalker received in ‘Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back’.
Officially it’s called The DEKA Arm, and was created by the DEKA Research and Development Corporation, funded by DARPA as part of their "Revolutionizing Prosthetics" program.
Years ago, DARPA, as the research branch of the U.S. Department of Defense, began this initiative devoted to advancing prosthetic technology.
40 million dollars was invested, and the result is a mind-controlled appendage.
It’s outfitted with sensors that pick up signals from muscle contractions where it is connected to the human arm and a computer than translates those pulses into refined movements.
In trials, users were able to use zippers and keys as well as pick up delicate objects like eggs without harming them.
Studies performed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs showed that the device is able to mediate and perform up to 10 tasks at a time.
Said a spokesperson for the FDA, "The DEKA Arm System may allow some people to perform more complex tasks than they can with current prostheses in a way that more closely resembles the natural motion of the arm."
Pricing and availability estimates have yet to be determined.