In the 21st century, prostheses are a field in which massive innovation is taking place, whether it is bionic intimate organs or artificial arms that can be controlled with the power of the mind, just like the natural ones.
An innovative brain interface that will allow war veterans to control artificial parts of the body has been announced by researchers in Virginia, USA. Across the ocean, scientists at Newcastle University are developing artificial limbs that can “see and feel” things in front of them and react.
The case of Mohammed Abad, from Scotland, who lost his intimate organ and a testicle in a serious accident at the age of 6, made waves. The boy was hit by a vehicle that dragged him over a distance of 180 meters. Due to his disability, Abad was unable to start a family. Things changed in 2015 when Abad (43 years old at the time) became the owner of the world’s first intimate bionic organ.
The organ was made for three years by a team of experts from the University of London from grafts taken from Mohammed’s forearm, according to Engadget. The penis also includes a pump mechanism. “When you want a little action, press the ‘on’ button. When you’re done, press another button. It takes a few seconds, “said the patient.
All these projects improve the lives of those who have been left with a physical disability, following war or an unfortunate accident.
The road to get here, however, was long and difficult. The first prostheses appeared in antiquity and appear even in works of that time. Some of these were very advanced for that period.
Prostheses began to appear in ancient Greece, i.e., prostheses for fingers or toes were found in ancient tombs. They were made of fiber and leather and were very realistically worked, even having a nail imitation.
Bronze and skin. This artificial leg was much more advanced than the previous ones and made walking easier. In the third century BC, the Roman general Marcus Sergius Silus lost his right hand in the Second Punic War. The silo commanded a metal arm that allowed him to hold the shield and continue his military career.