Update to U3

Feb. 16, 2009 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- Amputees who've lost an arm have a lot to thank Dr. Todd Kuiken for.

The Utah Arm 2, or "U2", from Motion Control, Inc. (a subsidiary of Fillauer, Inc., the USA's largest prosthetic products group) represents the most advanced combination of technology and appearance in myoelectric prostheses. The new U2, introduced in January, 1997, was recently entirely re-engineered with electronics that make the arm easier to fit for the prosthetist and easier to use for the wearer.

Utah Arm is widely acknowledged as the most advanced electric elbow system and is known for sensitive, proportional myoelectric control of the elbow, hand and wrist. The new version Utah Arm also features most up-to-date electronics technology for longer life and greater dependability.

A press release put out about the technology quoted one patient, Amanda Kitts, who was amazed at being able to pick up pennies and catch an object such as a checker rolling across a table.The new computer-type connectors and wire harness allow easy and versatile connections for EMG signals, wrist control, ServoPro control, remote power and remote locking and unlocking. The U2 has new prosthetist-friendly labeling and adjustments. It also features a new, more rugged motor and a long-life battery pack and fast charger, which charges batteries in about 2 1/2 hours or less. All improved U2 components are retro-fittable to previously made Utah Arms to allow upgrading for earlier Utah Arm wearers.

Bionic hand helps amputees get back to their lives

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RALEIGH -- The latest and greatest technology for amputees made its way to the Triangle this week. The world's first bionic hand has fingers that move independently, essentially allowing amputees to grip objects better than every before.

Ebele Achonu lost her hand four-years ago. The prosthetic hand she's been using has limitations. When I'm cooking sometimes it's hard to hold vegetables and little things you need all your fingers for, she said.

Now, she's trying out the new i-Limb bionic hand. It's one of the most advanced technologies available today for the upper limp prosthetic patient, said Bill Limehouse, certified prosthetist. It has five individual motors for each finger of the hand.

Those motors allow amputees to actually grasp an entire object, such as a baseball. The i-Limb uses the patients remaining arm muscles to send signals to the bionic hand and move it. The usage allows a little bit more convenience, said Limehouse. Instead of pre-positioning the body to get something, the hand does a lot of the adjusting for reaching and grabbing things, where with other systems they had to adjust their shoulder or hand to get the object.

About 300 people have the hand. Most of them are wounded soldiers from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Advanced Arm Dynamics Fits Targeted Muscle Reinnervation (TMR) Patient in Indiana

FORT WAYNE, Ind.-- A few weeks ago, Hank Esmond would not have dreamed that he would be operating his prosthetic arms through his thoughts. Mr. Esmond is the first upper extremity amputee in Indiana to be fit with the DynamicArm TMR manufactured by Otto Bock. Advanced Arm Dynamics, the nation’s leading provider of upper extremity prostheses, working with Sam Santa-Rita, CP, owner of SRT (Superior Rehabilitation Techniques) based in Ft. Wayne, recently fit Mr. Esmond with his first set of prosthetic limbs.

TMR surgery takes nerves that once went to an amputee's arm and hand and transfers them to new muscle sites, essentially rewiring the nerves and muscles. The signals from those nerves and muscles subsequently allow a patient to control their prosthesis. The TMR surgery has been performed on just a few upper extremity amputees worldwide

Mr. Esmond recently underwent a TMR surgery for his shoulder disarticulation amputation. In the fall of 2008, Hank Esmond, working as a high-power lineman, lost both his limbs when 7200 volts of electricity shot through his body. Mr. Esmond is utilizing the first production model of the DynamicArm TMR elbow from Otto Bock which is programmed currently to use 5 inputs of the available 8 to control the prosthesis right now.

“As with all TMR procedures, nerves are rewired onto muscles that have limited function because of limb loss. During the healing phase of the rewiring process, we are able to use the new Otto Bock DynamicArm TMR so that we can fit patients earlier in the rehabilitation process. We can customize the input devices and control schemes in order to maximize their potential and continue to make updates while the new TMR sites get stronger; a process that will take up to 8 or 9 months," said Pat Prigge, CP, a clinician with Advanced Arm Dynamics.

“To this day, we still aren’t sure what happened but I can’t let it get me down. This new technology allows me more independence and more self sufficiency to take care of things on my own,” said Hank Esmond.

Brooke O’Steen, OTR/L, an occupational therapist with Saint Joseph’s Hospital in Ft. Wayne has been working with Hank Esmond on the rehabilitation process.

“After hours spent together working on the rehabilitation phase of his treatment, it is great to see the progress Hank is making with the new DynamicArm TMR. I get really emotional when I see what he has done,” commented Ms. O'Steen.

Phil Baker is another Indiana upper extremity amputee using the DynamicArm TMR but unlike Hank Esmond has not yet had the TMR surgery. Working as a dump truck driver, Mr. Baker lost his limb in a roll over dump truck accident last year. He is planning on having the TMR surgery but while he is waiting the team at SRT and Advanced Arm Dynamics has set him up with the DynamicArm TMR as well and has configured it much the way they would a standard arm.

“The exciting thing, here again, is that we have so many options to pick from and we can modify and change Mr. Baker’s input scheme both now, and all the way through his TMR surgery always making it as intuitive as possible,” said Sam Santa-Rita CP, LP, owner of SRT.

"I try not to let it change my life. I really didn’t think it could be this functional,” said Phil Baker. “This new technology is all about having more control and independence as an amputee.”