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Design for Disability - Prosthetic Limbs

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The study and development of prosthetic limbs has experienced rapid development during the past decade, providing dramatic benefits to the amputee population worldwide. According to [|**Northwestern University**]'s Prosthetic-Orthotic Center's Web site, approximately 387,500 amputees live in the United States, with the majority of the amputations resulting from vascular disease, cancer, infection, trauma and birth defects. Lower extremity amputations, both above and below the knee, make up 91.7 percent of all amputations, with the remaining 8.3 percent upper extremity (above and below the elbow) amputations.
 * Background Info**

Today, thanks to advances in materials and design and the implementation of electronics in prosthetics, these amputees have access to prostheses that promise more complete rehabilitation than ever before. One of the most revolutionary developments in prosthetics has been the use of lighter, stronger and more resilient prosthetic limb materials. "Back in the polio days prostheses were made of steel, cat skin, rawhide...they were very rudimentary compared to what we have today," said Michael Richard, owner and president of Advance Prosthetics in Jacksonville. More recently, amputees used prostheses made of plastics and polyester resins, but these, too, had the disadvantage of being weighty and cumbersome. Now, said Richard, amputees are fitted with limbs made of incredibly lightweight, strong materials, including epoxy, modified acrylic resin, carbon fiber, titanium and aircraft aluminum.
 * Materials Used**
 * Immaculate prosthetics**

Immaculate is a neurological prosthetic, connected to the users central nervous system. The exterior of the prosthetic is textile clad in Corian plates. The Corian allows embedded technology to be seamlessly integrated, and in union with the textile gives the prosthetic a clear graphical identity. Each joint is a globe joint, allowing a larger freedom of movement than a normal human arm.



