Buzz
When astronaut Steve Austin suffered severe injuries from an experimental aircraft crash, Director Oscar Goldman reassured his colleagues at the Office of Strategic Intelligence, saying, 'We can rebuild him; we have the technology.' In 1974, this statement would have seemed like pure fiction if uttered in reality, especially as the television series The Six Million Dollar Man premiered.
Now, over four decades later, we truly possess the technology to reconstruct human beings—or at least certain parts of them. These ten bionic breakthroughs demonstrate how close we are to the ability to fully 'rebuild' those who have suffered serious injuries.
10. Eye
In 2009, British pensioner Ray Flynn lost the ability to recognize faces due to age-related macular degeneration. His life took a remarkable turn in 2015 when he was fitted with an electrical implant that sends a video feed to healthy cells in his retina. The tiny camera on his glasses captures the footage, allowing him to recognize faces, read again, and even watch TV with improved clarity. Most astonishingly, he can now see even with his eyes shut, all thanks to his video glasses.
The same technology that helped Ray Flynn has been used to aid individuals suffering from retinitis pigmentosa. Ophthalmologist Paulo Stanga from Manchester Royal Eye Hospital stated, 'This technology is revolutionary and life-changing for patients—restoring functional vision and enabling greater independence.'
9. Ear
Gene therapy might be combined with bionic technology to enhance hearing. Most hearing loss occurs between the hair cells in the cochlea and the auditory nerve. Cochlear implants address this by using tiny electrodes to stimulate the auditory nerve. However, when the auditory nerves are damaged, the electrodes must send stronger signals, which can distort the sound. To improve sound quality, repairing the auditory nerves is the only solution.
Gene therapy is emerging as a key player in this field. In experiments, it has shown the ability to regenerate 'shriveled' auditory nerves. Jeremy Pinyon, an auditory scientist at the University of New South Wales, and his team administered a neurotrophin-encoding gene to cells in the inner ears of deaf guinea pigs, which led to auditory nerve regeneration and restored the animals' hearing. While clinical application is still a while away, this holds great promise for enhancing bionic ears through gene therapy.
8. Teeth
The future of tooth regeneration and cavity prevention with bionic technology is closer than ever, as dentists increasingly use bioactive materials to combat tooth decay. Dr. Ana Angelova Volponi highlights significant advancements in creating 'bioteeth' by utilizing adult gingival stem cells.
Though the creation of bioteeth is becoming more feasible, there are differing opinions on whether growing teeth will become a regular dental practice. Nonetheless, research continues, including efforts involving 3-D printing, with the hope that, in time, we will be able to grow replacement teeth.
7. Hand
In the 2006 film Pan’s Labyrinth, a character is depicted with eyes on the palms of his hands. While this is a fantasy, the concept of a bionic hand with its own artificial eye is very much a reality. This prosthetic hand uses artificial intelligence to 'see' objects. When the wearer decides to grab something, electrical impulses convey this intention to the hand, which then captures an image of the object. Using one of four designated grasping positions, the hand closes around the object and lifts it.
Over 500 objects were photographed to train the hand. Each object was shown from 72 different angles and against various backgrounds. As testing progressed, the hand learned which grasping position was most effective for each object. Currently, this bionic hand is still a prototype, but it has been tested by two amputees with a 90 percent success rate. To be deemed ready for widespread use, it must achieve 100 percent effectiveness. Researchers are optimistic that new algorithms will help meet this target, and they also plan to make the hand lighter and reposition the camera to the palm.
6. Pancreas
The bionic pancreas developed by researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital and Boston University automatically monitors blood sugar levels and releases insulin as required. A sensor, implanted beneath the skin, tracks blood sugar levels in the tissue and sends the data to an iPhone app. Every five minutes, the app calculates the required insulin dosage and administers it through a pump.
Users no longer need to manually input the amount of carbohydrates consumed in each meal. Instead, they simply indicate whether the meal was 'typical,' 'more than usual,' 'less than typical,' or a 'small bite,' and also specify whether it was breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Trials with both adult and adolescent diabetics showed that their blood sugar levels were better controlled with the bionic pancreas compared to traditional methods. Further research may lead to this technology being a new standard for monitoring and controlling blood sugar in diabetic patients.
5. Leg Brace
John Simpson, now in his sixties, contracted polio after a fall at the age of two, which left him unable to walk without a cumbersome leg brace. The brace required manual adjustments to bend his leg, and if it malfunctioned, he risked breaking his leg. However, his new bionic leg brace has transformed his life, enabling him to walk, ride a bicycle, and climb stairs with ease. 'It has revolutionized my life,' he says.
Using Bluetooth technology, Simpson's computerized bionic brace incorporates sensors on his thigh to monitor his steps and moves with him. Made from carbon fiber, the brace is stronger than steel and operates on a rechargeable battery. It checks the knee's position every 0.02 seconds, offering Simpson the flexibility he lacked with his previous brace.
4. Knee
Hailey Daniswicz flexes her thigh muscles, sending signals to a computer via electrodes. An avatar on the monitor mirrors her movements, bending its knee. After losing her lower left leg to cancer, she is now able to control a bionic leg naturally. Levi Hargrove, a research scientist at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago’s Center for Bionic Medicine, states that the goal is to 'integrate the machine with the person.'
The prosthetic utilizes electromyography to measure muscle activity and pattern recognition software. Nine electrodes are attached to different muscles, detecting electrical signals from the nerves. The computer analyzes these signals to determine whether Daniswicz intends to bend her knee or flex her ankle. She and the other test subjects were able to control their legs and ankles using the bionic knee.
Over two million people have undergone lower limb amputations, and it is predicted that double that number will require such procedures by 2050, primarily due to the rise in diabetes cases. At present, prosthetic legs depend on users swinging them to initiate movement. However, future advancements in bionic knees and limbs are expected to completely transform the functionality of these prosthetics.
3. Tail
While most people don't need a tail, Nadya Vessey from Auckland, New Zealand, received one from the special effects team of the Lord of the Rings films so she could swim. Due to a congenital condition, her legs didn’t develop properly, leading to their amputation at 16. At 50, when a young boy saw her remove her prosthetic legs and asked about her own, she replied that she was a mermaid.
Inspired by her response, Vessey contacted the Oscar-winning Weta Workshop, the same company behind the visual effects for The Chronicles of Narnia and King Kong, asking them to create a mermaid tail for her. In reply, they crafted one from wetsuit fabric and plastic molds.
The tail's design allows Vessey to swim with smooth, flowing movements, reminiscent of the mythological creature she represents when wearing the prosthetic. The custom-made tail features a polycarbonate spine, a tail fin, and digitally printed scale patterns. Despite losing her legs, Vessey was a competitive swimmer in high school, and she plans to use her bionic mermaid tail to compete in the swimming portion of a triathlon.
2. Exoskeleton
Bionic technology has made significant strides, including the creation of a bionic exoskeleton. Worn externally, the exoskeleton assists the wearer in walking. Kevin Oldt, who was paralyzed from a snowmobile accident, once relied on a wheelchair. Now, thanks to his exoskeleton, a harness-like device that integrates struts, sensors, straps, and software, he receives customized assistance based on his movements.
Once Oldt begins walking with the help of crutches, the exoskeleton’s four electric motors work to straighten his lower body. His legs coordinate with the exoskeleton, which measures the force he applies when lifting his foot and pushing against the ground. In April 2016, the US Food and Drug Administration approved the Ekso GT exoskeleton for use by stroke survivors and individuals with spinal injuries below the neck.
1. Ankle
Hugh Herr, the director of MIT’s Biomechatronics group, asserts, "The pace of technological progress is so fast that it’s easy to envision a future where many of today’s disabilities are no longer considered disabilities." Bionic limbs are one example of how technology can restore abilities to those with physical limitations. Adrianne Haslet-Davis, a professional ballroom dancer, serves as a prime example, having lost part of her leg in the Boston Marathon bombings.
Herr, who lost his own legs in a climbing accident, created a prosthetic ankle that allowed Haslet-Davis to regain her dancing abilities. He explains, "In this lab, we mimic nature. We replicate the missing body parts and simulate the muscles, including how they’re controlled by the spinal cord. From these insights, we derive principles that inform the mechanics we design." Herr's team has already provided over 90 amputees with custom-built bionic ankles. While currently funded by the Veterans Administration, the Department of Defense, and select private insurance providers, Herr hopes that these advanced prostheses will soon be more widely available to the general public.
