Advances in prosthetics set to revolutionise disabled sport – IMechE

The Institution says that robotic limbs controlled by the nervous system and powered by microprocessors could mimic, and potentially surpass, biological limbs. Developments in nanotechnology and additive layer manufacturing, or 3D printing, will enable prosthetics to be personalised for each individual user. It believes that these breakthroughs are already being developed by universities and engineering firms around the world, and their impact could be seen as soon as the Rio 2016 Paralympics. This would present the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) with some difficult decisions. Currently the IPC rules state that Paralympic performance must be generated by the athlete's own physical prowess and not generated by automated, computer-aided or robotic devices. But as prosthetics progress from the passive blades used by the likes of Britain's latest gold medallist Jonnie Peacock to active, robotic limbs capable of generating power; will the Paralympic regulators, audiences and athletes themselves be able to ignore the developments taking place outside of the Olympic stadium? Philippa Oldham, head of manufacturing at IMechE said: "Advances in prosthetics technology are set to completely redefine what it means to be disabled in the coming years. "It could also have a serious impact on future Paralympic Games, depending on how sporting regulators react to the changes. As artificial limbs powered by microprocessors become more and more commonplace, regulators will be faced with difficult choices. "To open the floodgates would allow technology, rather than athletic prowess, to play an ever more decisive role. To block devices that Paralympians might be using on a daily basis would hinder progress and potentially open up the possibility of a rival Games for those who wish to use, and see, them. "To ensure these new technologies are introduced safely, without harming the spirit of the Paralympics, it is vital that regulators work with engineers now to prepare for the engineering advances on the horizon." Prosthetic technologies currently in development include: * ITAP (Intraosseous transcutaneous amputation prosthesis) Engineers at University College London (UCL) have used deer antlers, which grow through the skin without causing infection, as their inspiration for developing a way to secure a titanium rod directly to the bone, paving the way for bionic limbs that could be controlled by the central nervous system * BiOM US engineering firm iWalk, funded by the US Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs, has developed a robotic lower leg, the BiOM, that the company claims is the first to be clinically proven to achieve 'human normalisation' – allowing amputees to walk as if their legs were biological once again * Genium Developed by Ottobock, the German engineering firm tasked with maintaining the athletes' equipment at the London 2012 Paralympics, the Genium bionic knee uses microprocessors, an accelerometer and gyroscope to make the user's gait as natural as possible