Implantable Sensors Improve Control for Prosthetic Limbs From: Bioscience Technology - 07/25/2014 When a muscles contracts it generates electricity. This electrical activity remains in the muscles of an amputated limb. It has long been a goal to use these natural muscle signals to enhance the control of hand and arm prosthetics. Previously, researchers did this by attaching two external sensors to the surface of the skin of the residual limb. The sensors were connected to a prosthesis controller by wires. Detecting muscle signals on the surface of the skin limited the number of control sites available and only gave users the ability to open and close the prosthesis. Now, researchers are developing novel sensors that can be implanted directly into the muscles of the residual limb to create more control sites. These sensors wirelessly transmit intramuscular electrical signals from within the body to external electronics that command a prosthesis to move in a more natural way. Read the entire article and view a video (2:05) at: http://www.biosciencetechnology.com/videos/2014/07/implantable-sensors-improve-control-prosthetic-limbs http://www.nibib.nih.gov/news-events/newsroom/implantable-sensors-improve-control-prosthetic-limbs Links: Richard Weir http://www.ucdenver.edu/academics/colleges/Engineering/Programs/bioengineering/FacultyandStaff/Pages/RichardWeir.aspx BioMechatronics Development Laboratory http://www.ucdenver.edu/academics/colleges/Engineering/Programs/bioengineering/Laboratories/biomechatronics/Pages/default.aspx A Marine with a Prosthetic Hand Controlled By His Own Muscles (with video 1:37) http://www.popsci.com/article/technology/video-marine-prosthetic-hand-controlled-his-own-muscles The next-to-last place any farmer should visit is here http://www.hpj.com/archives/2014/jul14/jul21/Rural_Health_MACO_LDsr.cfm