N-buzz

Nanotechnology is beginning to open the doors of artificial limbs for people. nanoscale objects are too small even for high-powered microscopes to see the 25.4 million nanometers in an inch. A human hair is about 100,000 nanometers thick. In the early studies of nanotechnology researchers learned that they could reconfigure the new carbon fiber, super strong and lightweight, which they called "nanotubes". The challenge for team development of artificial limbs, people need to get information on the user's brain, the sensors so that it can respond directly to stimulation, as well as body parts were real.

A joint effort between Oak Ridge National Laboratory, NASA and the National Institute of Aerospace, and further research funded by the U.S. Department of Defense, has developed sensititive pressure, temperature sensitive, water-resistant materials nanotubes for the aviation industry, aerospace and robotic applications. Materials coated with sand, and nanotube arrays of fine gold wire has almost the same electrical conductor of heat capacity of human skin and are piezoelectric, in response to pressure. While artificial hands have become increasingly realistic movement and flexibility, most artificial skin is still a plastic liner insensitive.

The material can be designed to behave as a temperature sensor and pressure, as a flexible electrical conductor or as part of a polymer material with mechanical and thermal properties similar to human skin. Carbon nanotubes is biocompatible, meaning that the body's immune system does not recognize as foreign. In the future, which will help to create sensors wired into the nervous system of the person who allows information to flow in both directions to the brain. The sensors under the skin are capable of measuring the electrical power or temperature changes and send the data to a computer chip to be interpreted into useful information. The team is currently working on a piece of skin with a water resistant surface and can detect changes in temperature and pressure. The top layer of waterproof material is held in a specially designed nano-structured. Start with small particles of sand, each textured to amplify the effect of surface tension, naturally repelling water.

Human skin can send a message about the location of sensations that are 2 mm apart. The current technology of artificial skin can reveal needles that are 5 millimeters. Scientists working with nanotechnology to bridge the gap between the sensor so that more accurate locations can be identified. When these technologies are used successfully and debugging, artificial limbs have the same sensitivity as real skin.

Currently, prosthetic handled through a collaboration between muscles and mechanics. In an artificial hand, for example, the user sometimes shoulder or arm muscles that are attached to sensors, these sensors, in turn, sends an electronic signal to the mechanics of the artificial hand, telling him to open or close. Technology working to facilitate the process and make it faster by linking to the nerves instead of muscles. Advances in artificial skin, which allows more precise information on changes in temperature and pressure are valid only if the person with the prosthesis is able to process and respond to information. In an attempt to resolve data problems, medical researchers have managed to redirect the arm nerves of amputees to their chest muscles. They identified the nerves in the chest redirected to specific locations on the hand or fingers, where impressions are received.

This has created an electronic link between the prosthesis and the brain, so that the subject may experience pressure for example and the brain sends a signal to tell your fingers to pull like a computer would have in a robot. The robots are sensors in the artificial skin report the information they collect through the son linked to a computer, allowing the man's work on the robot to choose the appropriate response. Developers hope that the year 2010, technology transfer of data - electronic circuits and software to manage the process - will be fast enough for members of the user sense and respond to stimulation as fast as he / she would if the part was natural. Through this program successfully, a person with artificial hands will be able to feel the heat of the bath of a child and typing on a computer keyboard as easy as everyone.

Polyamide, also known as FILMSkin is made to look and feel as real as human skin, too. It is lightweight, but extensible, allowing some flexibility to move with prosthetics, and poured water like human skin, which is an important quality to protect the electronics inside. Scientists are studying how to use the piezoelectric properties of nanotubes to develop ways to power electronics in the skin with solar thermal or body so that the batteries are not needed.

Advances in nanotechnology have the power to restore their functionality, and dignity for users of prostheses.

These particles can be sprayed as a powder on polymers and then bonded to the surface of the heat. Coating to keep water or sweat joints, and joints, where moisture could compromise electronics