~ established 2008 ~
Archive for April 2011
While I was replacing my cable sheath / cable housing I also decided it was time to get independent in terms of customizing my own cables. I cannot run this prosthetic setup and not be increasingly independent when it comes to repairs. At least, as long as the prosthetists prefer to be occasionally available and not on weekends or holidays.
So I was using the cable sheaths of Shimano.
With increasing performance and experience comes increasing proficiency in repairing my arm. Obviously, my orthopedic technician did not listen to me as I had told him numerous times to cut the cable sheath using special equipment.
This results in the cable sheath perforating and tearing up a t-shirt.
Continue reading ‘Cable sheath crap / cable damage [yet again]’ »
Word of mouth has it, that a relatively large prosthetic part manufacturer will have to face a lawsuit. An amputee who obviously was met with legally unacceptable issues now appears to strike back. It’s a rumor though, so we’ll keep the ball low.
But that is somewhat unheard of. Why?
Continue reading ‘Lawsuit against a prosthetic part manufacturer [rumor]’ »
It appears that today and in these days, nowadays and in our modern times, below elbow amputation is very rare and while no ergotherapist, physiotherapist, orthopedic surgeon, dermatologist or psychiatrist will see an arm amputee in practice in thirty years here, the “rare disease” community also (!) fails to acknowledge the fact that a realistic incidence estimate of below elbow amputation of around 1/50’000 entails the exact same consequences that other rare diseases and orphan drugs entail.
Yet there are miles to go before we sleep.
In the olden days, arms were removed more often, and knowhow was generated and documented by people that may not have had as much gadgetry and immediate networking opportunity as nowadays but who were just as clever, curious and differentiated as one would ever wish.
I now will type up some short summary points of a handbook published after World War I by Muirhead Little [1].
Continue reading ‘Learning from the past I – Muirhead Little [literature review]’ »
This artifact published on eBay [link] is advertised as an extremely rare authentic ancient Roman bronze prosthetic hand dated 0-400 AD. It is described to contain a fabulous multipurpose style with three fingers (each “very different” from the other), a twisted engraved design and beautiful dark green patina. It is described to be “in excellent condition”. Apparently it is just 40mm in length and it is alleged to have been found in Europe. As the text says further, ancient soldiers would bury their valuable treasures before a big battle hoping to return later. The items they didn’t bury were often lost on the battlefield. Unfortunately many soldiers were slaughtered, but they left behind many treasures for modern man to find.
Looking at the items, I wondered whether they could have been some kitchen utensil (stirring a soup with that could have been effective) or an instrument for gutting an animal (at that time, one would personally go hunt rather than buy meat from another person), of simply something different altogether.
Continue reading ‘Ancient Roman hand estimated 0-400 AD [archeology musing]’ »
Cosmetic arms aren’t as non-functional as you believe
The key issue for this article are these:
Continue reading ‘Cosmetic versus functional prosthetic arms [comparison of activities]’ »
While the feedback one gets through support / user circles concerning the iLimb hand is alleged to not be very good, this does not necessarily mean much. It may not be a significant thing to learn after all. Because on the other hand (‘bwahaha’) the iLimb hand does seem to have its fans. In my own view and having seen this device up-front, it is extremely loud and noisy and – as mentioned on this blog website several times now – not too functional.
Whatever may turn out to be the case from your own view, the iLimb hand appears to be a generally lovable and endearing product. A bit on the expensive side, admitted – but still lovable. Generally people wear things and like things that may not even have to be too functional. Why one would have to point out an iLimb to wear as product that falls into the ‘lovable but not too functional’ category is something I do not understand though. For my own needs, wearing a ‘lovable but not too functional arm’ is sufficiently covered by using my cosmetic arm.
But now there is this study out so let’s have a look.
Continue reading ‘iLimb versus DMC plus hand [comparison of myoelectric prostheses]’ »
Waehrend man in Support-Kreisen von Betroffenen eher nicht so viel gutes ueber die iLimb-Hand zu hoeren bekommt, was nichts heissen soll, scheint diese Hand auch ihre Fans zu haben. Wie auch immer, ist das Produkt jedenfalls (fuer meinen Geschmack) ganz extrem laut, und wie bereits mehrfach hier auf meiner Blog-Seite erwaehnt, keineswegs besonders funktionell.
Unbeachtet dessen ist sie offenbar an sich ein liebenswertes Produkt. Das zeigt, dass Leute auch gerne Sachen anhaben, die gar nicht einmal besonders funktionell sein muessen. Warum das ausgerechnet eine i-Limb hand sein muss, wissen die Goetter – mir selbst reicht zum Gernhaben und aufgrund der Erscheinung (im Gegensatz zur Funktion) bevorzugte Hand eine vergleichsweise spottbillige passive Kosmetik-Hand.
Continue reading ‘iLimb versus DMC plus Hand [Vergleich myoelektrischer Prothesen]’ »
