Can you imagine the trauma of losing an arm or a leg, only to be told that the cost of a prosthesis prohibited you from regaining full functional movement? Unfortunately, over the years, this has been the experience of many, with cutting edge technology out of reach primarily due to the price.
It’s not just those who suffer traumatic amputations - but also, individuals born without limbs who face the same barriers of getting the best possible prosthetics in the market.
This is all about to change with a whole new approach to prosthetics that does not cost an arm and a leg.
Counting the cost of prosthetics
In medicine, there’s not always a black and white answer to treatment and in many cases the more you pay, the more options you may be offered. This is certainly true in the field of prosthetics where the cost of a prosthetic leg, for example, could be as little as $5,000, or for the very best computerized prosthesis, as much as $70,000.
The functionality of the prosthesis bears a direct correlation to the price, with the more expensive bionic limbs offering a far great accuracy and range of movement. A basic below-the-knee prosthetic limb which only provides mobility on flat ground at walking pace will cost $5,000. To get precise movements including going up and down the stairs, running, and with computer-assisted systems, you could be paying ten times as much.
Unless you have the means to pay for the prosthesis yourself, what you will be offered depends on the activities you’re expected to perform. To get the higher functioning artificial limbs, you’ll have to be able to demonstrate a sustained need for more robust and sophisticated prostheses. Unfortunately, the best prosthetics aren’t handed out universally which means many are left struggling with no more than basic movement.
More than just money
When assessing the cost of prosthetics, there’s far more to consider than simply the financial cost of providing the artificial limbs. The psychological and emotional well-being of the individuals shouldn’t be discounted; failing to provide a suitable prosthesis can have an extremely detrimental effect.
Not providing prosthetic limbs within two years of amputation has a proven negative effect on the individual, increasing the likelihood of mental health issues such as depression. Other problems which are more likely to occur include obesity and a reliance on social welfare. In general, massive savings can be made on rehabilitation through the early use of prosthetics.
<3>Revolutionising the world of prosthetics
Giving the very best prosthetics to those who need it has become a priority for the world of medicine, but until now, the costs have been prohibitive. Alongside the initial cost of the prosthesis are the further expenses of invasive surgery, extensive rehabilitation plus ongoing limb maintenance and replacements.
Neurogress has adopted a new approach which has been previously explored by leading neuroscientists and identified as a radical solution for the future. This means forgetting about invasive surgery and instead relying on neural control software which uses the power of the mind to control prosthetic limbs.
Using a neural interface, the signals are sent from the brain to the software which translates these into precision movements of the artificial limb. No medication is required, no inflammation is caused and the rehabilitation process is far more rapid, too.
Although it may sound unrealistically futuristic, this technology is becoming available now and there’s already a huge demand for it in medical, military and game applications. This demand will not just help to propel the technology forward, but will also drive down the cost and help to make it more affordable to the wider public.
As well as providing far superior movement and functionality in the artificial limbs, this type of neural control software can be produced far more inexpensively too. As an added benefit, the prosthetics may be produced using 3D printing methods, pushing down the cost further without compromising on the quality. Finally, the future of prosthetic limbs, which really don’t cost an arm or a leg, is on the horizon.
What do you think about this vision for the future? Does the idea of software which is able to understand the brain’s thoughts give you cause for concern? Or do you believe that fully functional prosthetics should be widely available for everyone?
Invest in the interactive mind-controlled devices of the future by buying tokens now. Visit Neurogress.io.