Iran's initiative on artificial organs
Iranian researchers at a research center, affiliated to University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Sciences (USWRS), have developed a prosthetic hand which moves by brain waves and commands.
Farhad Tabatabaei, the head of Medical and Rehabilitation Equipments Technologies Institute, said the institute has implemented several research projects, ISNA wrote.
The device is made for people without hands, he said. When an individual needs to move his/her hand, he starts thinking about it which leads to creation of brain waves ― transferring the waves to the prosthesis.
The system, designed on basis of smart technology, works by receiving brain waves.
It processes brain waves by a processor, sends it to a driving motor, which helps the hand to move.
The USWRS researchers have also improved prospects of walking for people with poliomyelitis.
People with poliomyelitis would walk more normally with the new powered knee-ankle-foot orthosis developed by Mokhtar Arazpour, a researcher and faculty member of the university.
The prototype of the powered knee ankle foot orthosis was developed to provide restriction of knee flexion during the stance phase and active flexion and extension of the knee during the swing phase of walking.
The tests on volunteer persons resulted in an 18-percent reduction in walking speed and 18-percent shorter step length compared to walking with the traditional locked knee ankle foot orthosis. There was also a 16-percent increase in percentage of stance phase when walking with the new orthosis. The volunteers also demonstrated near-normal peak knee flexion during swing phase and decreased hip hiking when they used the powered orthosis.
The results demonstrate that the new orthosis provides a more normal gait pattern compared to a locked knee ankle foot orthosis and knee flexion and extension during swing ― promising a more natural walking experience for people with poliomyelitis.
Iran's initiative on artificial organs
