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Prosthetic Arm Biomimics The Arms Of An Octopus
inventorspot.com ^ | Dec 2011 | T. Goodman

Posted on 01/19/2011 8:59:44 AM PST by smokingfrog

Kaylene Kau, a recent graduate from the industrial design department at the University of Washington was challenged by a professor to 'push the boundaries of prosthetic design.' So she did, and here, inspired by the fluid movements of an octopus's arms, is her multi-jointed Prosthetic Arm.

Kau's research on prosthetic arms revealed that they are used primarily to assist the dominant arm, rather than to mimic the actions of the dominant arm. Her flexible design enables two important functions of her inspiration, as the octopus arm is great at picking up and holding things of various sizes.

The Prosthetic Arm is fitted to the remaining portion of the missing arm and has a number of separate links which act as joints to enable a variety of bending skills, even a tiny snail curl at the furthest end of the arm to grasp something small.

(Excerpt) Read more at inventorspot.com ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Health/Medicine
KEYWORDS: biomimics
I've got to admit this looks a little weird, but is also pretty cool.

More pictures at link.

1 posted on 01/19/2011 8:59:46 AM PST by smokingfrog
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To: smokingfrog

2 posted on 01/19/2011 9:04:57 AM PST by dfwgator
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To: smokingfrog; JoeProBono

Instead of fingerprints, does she leave suction marks?


3 posted on 01/19/2011 9:10:53 AM PST by Alex Murphy ("Posting news feeds, making eyes bleed, he's hated on seven continents")
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To: smokingfrog

4 posted on 01/19/2011 9:13:14 AM PST by TexasPatriot1 ("Tyranny is defined as that which legal for the government but illegal for the citizenry" Jefferson)
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To: smokingfrog

It definitely makes sense, but it’s also definitely weird looking. A very interesting idea.


5 posted on 01/19/2011 9:20:43 AM PST by livius
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To: dfwgator

First thing I thought of.


6 posted on 01/19/2011 9:21:32 AM PST by smokingfrog (Do all the talking you want, but do what I tell you.)
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Comment #7 Removed by Moderator

To: smokingfrog

just a big finger it needs suction cups


8 posted on 01/19/2011 9:35:24 AM PST by underbyte (TEOTEWAKI)
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To: smokingfrog

Paul the Octopus would be so proud!


9 posted on 01/19/2011 10:05:32 AM PST by midnightcat
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To: Lazamataz; JRios1968

*ahem*


10 posted on 01/19/2011 10:09:52 AM PST by martin_fierro (< |:)~)
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To: TexasPatriot1

11 posted on 01/19/2011 10:20:03 AM PST by ArrogantBustard (Western Civilization is Aborting, Buggering, and Contracepting itself out of existence.)
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To: dfwgator

L

12 posted on 01/19/2011 10:22:29 AM PST by Lurker (The avalanche has begun. The pebbles no longer have a vote.)
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To: martin_fierro
Nope...not gonna do it...

OK, I did it.

13 posted on 01/19/2011 10:38:42 AM PST by JRios1968 (This is me, in a nutshell: "Let me out of here...I'm trapped in a nutshell!!!!")
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