Amputees are finding solutions in technology that offer better control over limb movement, thanks to a new iPhone app designed to interact with prosthetics.
The i-Limb app works with the latest in prosthetic technology to allow patients to control the movement, feel and grip of their prosthetic in a more effective, user-friendly way. Through use of the app, patients are reporting greater mobility, control and flexibility in how they use their limbs, achieving better outcomes for those with prosthetics.
The app syncs up with the prosthetic limb and enables the user to control the behavior of the limb much more easily. In a few clicks, one of 24 different grip patterns can be activated to perform a variety of more complex motor functions. With the help of the i-Limb app, patients are now able to make much better use of their prosthetic limbs to minimize the practical impact of the disability.
Advancements in the technologies used in prosthetic limbs have made it possible for amputees to achieve much greater control over finer motor skills. With an i-Limb, patients can program their arm to suit their needs, which is helping improve the lives of thousands of amputees worldwide.
The i-Limb is the most advanced model of its kind, representing the functionality of a human hand more accurately than any other prosthetic available. While the technology is consistently improving, patients can use their i-Limb to aid in a variety of everyday tasks that would otherwise be made considerably less viable.
The i-Limb Ultra even comes with a range of different skin coverings for different applications, helping to improve its aesthetic, along with an auto-grip function that prevents the arm from dropping objects in its grasp.
Multi-platform app developers, such as www.simplikate.com, are making it affordable for entrepreneurs to develop apps that would have previously needed a large dedicated team of developers. This makes it possible for ambitious apps to be developed at an affordable price, opening up new opportunities for innovation.
Some analysts are even suggesting that the i-Limb could already be poised to reshape the prosthetics market, introducing a level of sophistication that isn’t otherwise available for patients.
Roger Koger, a 34-year-old double-amputee from Kentucky, is one of i-Limb’s customers. Since his upgrade to i-Limb, he has noted considerable improvements in mobility and independence, as the range of daily tasks he can perform is increased. “Five years ago, I couldn’t pull my pants up by myself. Today, I go hunting and do some of the things that I probably never imagined I could have done five years ago.”
The i-Limb was launched in Canada in 2007 by David Gow. The limb works with independent digits which the user can control, along with a variety of programmed grips that respond to everyday practical applications.
The supporting app allows the patient to customize the grip patterns and select the appropriate type of grip for individual purposes. With the auto-grip feature and other measures designed to improve usability, patients can quickly learn to adapt to the full potential of their new limbs.
While the app is reliant on the prosthetic being fitted, it can be installed and synced easily to enable more freedom for patients and their families. As the technology becomes more affordable, it seems inevitable that i-Limb will play its part in shaping a new generation of prosthetics.
