The hottest plastic filament makes the prosthetic

Plastic filaments make prosthetics feel.

according to these, the experimental machine will be greatly expanded in the "big" direction. According to the times, American scientists have recently developed an "artificial nerve", which may one day make amputees' prosthetics feel hot and cold and touch, so that they can achieve efficient two-way communication with the brain

realize two-way communication with the brain

this technology uses thin plastic filaments made of PEDOT that can conduct electronic signals. The plastic filament is connected with the patient's real nerve and extends to the end of the prosthetic limb. The scientists who invented this technology believe that it can eventually enable amputees to play the piano and make artificial hands feel like real hands. Professor Paul cederna, an expert in plastic surgery at the University of Michigan in the United States, said: "people who lose their hands can hold their children's hands again and feel their temperature. Many things we have to do every day depend on gentle touch and pressure feedback, whether it is holding a hot coffee cup in our hands or putting it in our ears."

professor sedner announced his research results at the annual meeting of American plastic surgeons held in Seattle last week. This research project, funded by the U.S. military, is one of a series of measures to improve the treatment of amputees. Due to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the amputation cases of American soldiers are increasing. It is reported that since the beginning of 2008, 55 British soldiers have lost at least one leg or arm. At the British Defense Medical Rehabilitation Center (DMRC) in Headley court, the current state-of-the-art mechanical prosthesis can be moved wirelessly by a control device in the patient's pocket

according to sedner, the use of PEDOT makes it possible for effective two-way communication between the prosthetic limb and the brain, because the reaction speed of this material is twice that of normal nerve cells, and the efficiency of transmitting electronic signals of the nervous system is 10 times that of the currently used metal materials. In addition, studies have shown that the use of PEDOT can also stimulate the growth of new nerve cells. Sedner said, "this makes the prosthetic limb feel the same as the real limb. In this way, there is no need for the brain to re recognize the process, because the 'artificial nerve' has carried all those signals."

hundreds of thousands of nano sensors

plastic filaments that transmit electronic signals must be equipped with hundreds of thousands of nano sensors, which are still under development and can distinguish tactile, hot and cold and other senses. "The problem we are facing now is that the use of prosthetics is very complex. If the newly developed prosthetics have enough sensors to provide various senses such as light touch and pressure, we can realize two-way communication between the prosthetics and the patient's brain," sedner said Sedner developed this technology with the help of laboratory animals. He hopes to conduct clinical trials on people within 3 years and officially apply it to patients within 10 years

5000 people in the UK install prosthetics every year, of which more than 80% are prosthetics such as legs and feet. Once two-way communication with the patient's brain can be achieved, this will have a considerable impact on the prosthetic industry, because iron ore pellet pressure testing machines can also be used to test other metals Wu Guanghui, the chief designer of non-metallic and composite C919, said in an interview that more complex activities are needed to test and analyze the mechanical properties of materials, such as artificial hands and arms. John boutworth, 23, a former RAF mechanic, lost his left hand in a rocket attack at Basra Air Force Base in Iraq in 2007. At present, boutworth is actively training and hopes to get a place in the British Cycling Team participating in the Paralympic Games

sometimes, he will use metal "split hook" (which can provide lifting force and control force) to assist hand activities. Sometimes, he will switch to the more sensitive bionic hand i-LIMB, whose surface is covered with artificial skin. The bionic hand i-LIMB is controlled by a sensor implanted on the skin surface, which can detect the electronic signal of the amputated muscle after handling

many technical obstacles need to be overcome

boutworth said: "the separate hook is easy to use. With i-LIMB, patients also feel very convenient. However, I won't feel very comfortable lifting the coffee cup with it. You can't feel the pressure, and you must always stare at this hand to ensure its correct grasp. If you can use it to feel all kinds of things, it must be very comfortable."

Sarah storey is a famous Paralympic champion in Britain. She won many medals in swimming and cycling competitions. She was born without a left hand. "If this technology can be used on people like me, it must feel very good. But I always want to figure out one question, that is, if someone gives me a hand, do I know how to use it?"

Michael fox, a doctor at the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital in London, has been working with the amputee in Hedley court to try this new technology. He said that before this kind of prosthetic limb can be applied, we must first overcome several technical obstacles: "you must be cautious about transmitting feelings from the limb to the brain. Once you receive the wrong signal, the brain will face great risks. I am very excited about these advances, but they are still in their early stages."

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