Researchers from University College, London, have created a prosthetic leg that attaches directly to the bone. The Itap (intraosseous transcutaneous amputation prosthesis) involves attaching a metal implant directly to the bone at the end of the residual limb. The metal implant then pokes through the skin and attaches to the prosthetic leg, giving the wearer a direct connection between their body and the prosthesis. That means that the person can feel what that leg is doing since the new setup provides much better tactile feedback – at the cost of never being able to take it off, of course.
The prosthetic limbs are modelled after deer antlers, which have porous bone beneath their surface; the pores help soft tissue invade the bone and seal off the interface between skin and bone, so dirt and bacteria can’t get in. Itap uses a similar porous design in the area where the skin and prosthetic meet, allowing soft tissue to invade the metal.
Picture Credit : Google
