Major Issues on Human Body Implants and Prosthesis - Research Paper Example

? A study of human body implants and prosthesis; their benefits, disadvantages, technology, development and progress. A study of human body implants and prosthesis; their benefits, disadvantages, technology, development and progress. Prosthetic devices and implants are normally used to either replace certain things that the human body has lost, or to enhance certain capabilities in humans, and because of this, many people have regained things they once thought was lost. Other people have found things they never thought they could find. This is because of the advanced state of the prosthetic devices and implants that are currently available in the market. Current devices are sleeker, more human-like, more sensitive, more durable, stronger, more agile and, generally more cost-effective. However, this was not always the case. Our current models and styles of prosthetic devices and implants evolved over time from much bulkier and harder to use devices, and with this evolution came better functions and therefore, bigger advantages. This may seem to make such devices such great inventions but of course, great innovations always have people who abuse them. Although this may seem impossible, despicable, unbelievable or even atrocious to some, but it does happen. For different reasons , some people take advantage of prosthetics and implants in order to get something they want. This can be considered the down side of the development of this art and science. This paper's aim is to look at the development of prosthetics and implants, its benefits, disadvantages, types of technology and progress. This paper will look at these topics: 1. About prosthetic devices, implants and their history 2. Prosthesis and implant technology 3. Major roadblocks and potential abuses to prosthetic devices and implants 4. A look at prosthetic devices and implants in the future About prosthetic devices, implants and their history. According to medterms.com, a prosthetic device is “...an artificial substitute or replacement of a part of the body ...” while an implant, according to medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com, is “an object or material inserted or grafted into the body for prosthetic, therapeutic, diagnostic, or experimental purposes”. This means that normally, prosthetic devices and implants are used for medical purposes, such as replacement feet or legs, even hands and eyes, or pace-makers and metal implants on bones and even replacement bones. These types of devices are normally only used by people who need them in order to live or function. These types of devices have helped many people survive and even cope after traumatic experiences and helped them function more normally even after they have lost one or more of their body parts, or after some of their body parts have ceased to work, or were claimed by illnesses. Although these devices may seem very modern, there are some pieces of evidence that show primitive prosthetic devices as early as the Egyptian empire. This shows us that the need for people to regain lost functions, or lost cosmetic parts date far back into our human existence. This also shows us that in one way or another, prosthetic devices and implants have began to develop for quite a long time. Another event that pushed the development of prosthetic devices came when, according to inventors.about.com, French surgeon, Ambroise Pare pushed amputation as a life-saving measure. This pushed the development of prosthesis with the ability to fasten to a body with atmospheric pressure. One more thing to point out is that since prosthetic devices and implants have been imbedded into our culture, they have even made it into pop culture and media; from prosthetics that turn into weapons, to robotics-enhanced prosthetics, and even mind control brain implants. Although most experts agree that the prosthetic devices and implants portrayed in media and science fiction will remain fiction for quite some time, others may argue that some of it may be possible in the near future. Others may even compare our current technology to science fiction adaptations and think that it may actually be possible. Prosthesis and implant technology In recent times, we have seen prosthetics become capable of things that, in the past, would have been impossible for prosthetic devices. Now, prosthetics are more dexterous, nimble, precise, reactive, and more responsive to the human need. Examples can be seen in prostheticarm.com, where a man with a prosthetic arm is able to ride a mountain bike, which would have been impossible for older types of prosthetic arms. This goes for implants as well. New and advanced implants are more functional, easier to use, and more importantly, have a lower risk of being rejected by the body. This means that more people who are in need of them would be able to take advantage of them with a lower risk factor. According to news.cnet.com, some of the technological advancements and features that these new and advanced implants and prosthetic devices have can be attributed to advancements in the development of better pressure censors, better computer chips, microprocessors and more flexible material. And according to the article, these features and advancements make the use of these devices more natural and require less thought and effort. Like the example used in the article, walking. It would no longer take as much of an effort as if regular prosthetics are used. One other thing to look at is how companies test the materials and technologies that go into implants in order to make them better. One article by br.zwick.com gives us a look at how they test and perfect the materials and the implants themselves to make them perfect for human use. They extensively test everything from functionality to screw behavior in order to make sure it is good to use by people. With better testing, innovative materials and great technology, features such as electronic and computerized monitoring, better grip functions, better responsiveness and durability made their way into the modern prosthetic devices and implants. Major roadblocks and potential abuses to prosthetic devices and implants With better functions, better technology and easier usage, these devices also come with different roadblocks and abuses. This is normal in the sense that most technological advancements have roadblocks or hindrances as well as abuses that come with them. This portion of the paper’s aim is to look at these roadblocks and abuses in order to better understand these issues. One of the main roadblocks that come with most implants and prosthetics, according to an article by technewsworld.com is money. Although companies and groups can continue to develop and create better, more usable and more dexterous prosthetics, one roadblock from stopping is money. There are just very few individuals or companies that can or will shell out money for development, production or purchase of these devices, as high tech they many bee. Yet another challenge that is discussed by mdguidelines.com involved the body rejecting these foreign devices, As we know, implants are not natural for a human body and as such, the body would try to reject the device, which could lead to irritation, and possibly infection as well. The article provides different types of complications that could occur when an implant is in place such as “bleeding and surgical complications, post-operative infection, immune response and rejection, and device failure”. These would be very dangerous to the user, which is why companies continually work on making better, more body-friendly devices. An abuse that could be taken note of in terms of prosthetics and implants is the issue that they give you enhanced skills or abilities. One thing to look at is the argument that prosthetic legs give advantage to sprinters, In an article by popsci.com, it tries to look at this very question. As we can see, not all prosthetics give advantages top the users in terms of sports. There are specialized devices made for sporting use, but regular devices are not capable of this. One last downside to this great advancement is that there acre certain people who use them without needing them. One issue is that they have the potential to be used as props or accessories in insurance fraud. Although this is not directly the fault of the device, they can be used as supporting props for this type of fraud. A look at prosthetic devices and implants in the future When talking about the “future” of prosthetics and implants, we aren’t rally trying to talk about Robocop or Ironman. But the article by research.va.gov does give us a good insight into the actual realistic goals of prosthetic sciences in the future. It states “to restore independence and mobility to amputees and enable them to do everyday things most of us take for granted…” This is of course much more doable and reachable than aiming to make a real version of Robocop. By looking at the trends in advancement of technology in recent times, we can get a good prediction as to what the future of prosthetic technology would be like. According to the same article above, some of the advancements and breakthroughs would be so revolutionary as to “blur the distinction between biological and non-biological”. This is of course in terms of mobility, functionality and responsiveness. Other things to look forward to would be more active and fluid communication between the user and the device. This would make the device easier to control and use, as well as make the device give better feedback to the user. In the realm of the medical implant, advancements would make it so that they would be accepted by a higher percentage of people, as well as need little to no maintenance, and perform exactly like, if not better that the organ or tissue they replaced. An article by arstechnica.com provides us some avenues by which technology for implants can evolve,, such as organic circuitry, and new materials. In the end, despite some of the downsides regarding prosthetics and implants, the future is looking bright for the development of this technology and it seems we may be getting closer and closer to giving back the functionality that seemed permanently lost to certain individuals. References Advanced Prosthetic Technologies, (2010) prostheticarm.com retrieved Nov 8, 2011 http://www.prostheticarm.com/ Bellis, M. (2010) The history of prosthetics, inventors.about.com retrieved Nov 8, 2011, http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blprosthetic.htm Definition of Prosthetic, (2011) .medterms.com, retrieved Nov 8, 2011 http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=15985 Dillow, C, (Nov 19, 2009) So Do Prosthetic Limbs Give Sprinters an Advantage Or Not? popsci.com , retrieved Nov 8, 2011 http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2009-11/seriously-do-prosthetic-limbs-give-sprinters-advantage Prosthesis, (2011) wikipedia.org, retrieved Nov 8, 2011 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosthesis#History Prosthetics of Future Will Mesh Body, Mind and Machine (Oct 26, 2005) research.va.gov, retrieved Nov 8, 2011 http://www.research.va.gov/news/features/prosthetics.cfm Skillings, J (Aug 3, 2005) Newsmaker: Prosthetics go high tech, news.cnet.com retrieved Nov 8, 2011 http://news.cnet.com/Prosthetics-go-high-tech/2008-1082_3-5816267.html Sprey, K. (Aug 9, 2010) New prosthesis eases phantom limb pain, gizmag.com, retrieved Nov 8, 2011 http://www.gizmag.com/new-prosthesis-technolgy-eases-phantom-limb-pain/15975/ Stapleton, L, (Aug 31, 2009) The Roadblocks to Making Prosthetic Miracles Happen Every Day. technewsworld.com retrieved Nov 8, 2011 http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/67995.html Timmer, J, (Apr 9, 2009) Organic conductors, nanostructures, and future medical implants. arstechnica.com, retrieved Nov 8, 2011, http://arstechnica.com/science/news/2009/04/organic-conductors-nanostructures-and-future-medical-implants.ars USE OF MICROPROCESSOR IN PROSTHESIS, (Feb 17, 2010) bmeforum.wordpress.com retrieved Nov 8, 2011, http://bmeforum.wordpress.com/2010/02/17/use-of-microprocessor-in-prosthesis/ Ulm Innovation Region: High-tech implants made possible by intelligent testing technology, (2010) br.zwick.com retrieved Nov 8, 2011 http://br.zwick.com/fileadmin/content/presse/pdf/Ulm_e.pdf What is Insurance Fraud?, (2011) insurance.ca.gov retrieved Nov 8, 2011 http://www.insurance.ca.gov/0300-fraud/0100-fraud-division-overview/0100-what-is-insurance-fraud/#Disability Read More