Prosthetics

The field of prosthetics has received a major impetus from the development of bionics. In bionics, engineering problems are solved by studying the properties of biological systems. For example, studying the swimming movements of fish and the flight of birds give the bionics engineer clues on how to solve problems in jet and rocket propulsion. Problems of conservation of energy in engineering are studied in relation to other biological examples.

Bionics is an outgrowth of the field of study known as cybernetics. The concern of cybernetics is to relate the way machines communicate, are controlled, and acquire information to similar processes in life systems. Bionics, like cybernetics, depends on the understanding of physiology, biochemistry, and both the physical and mechanical properties of living things. The bionic scientist must be prepared to apply mathematics, physics, and electronic engineering for the formulations of the interfaces between living and mechanical systems.

Bionics grew out of a concept known as the general-systems theory. Nicholas Rashevsky, a Russian-American scientist, was the first to develop a correlation between the workings of the central nervous system and mathematical models. After his initial studies, other physicists and engineers entered the field of bionics. They have studied the way in which visual images are established within biological visual systems. From these investigations technologically advanced cameras, television, and optical-recognition systems have emerged. Those who studied biological auditory systems were able to devise major improvements in radio transmitters and receivers.

Along with all of its other applications, bionics has been a major force in the development of prosthetics. The field of artificial organ transplantation owes its development to bionics. Artificial limbs—arms and legs—can now be electronically controlled by an electronic process that recognizes various patterns of electrical movement. Complicated movements of the prosthesis can be brought about by microcircuits that detect the patterns of electrical impulses within the tissue of the surrounding muscle as it is expressed on the outer skin. Electronic motors then carry the prosthesis to its task.

Other prosthetic devices employing bionic principles allow some of the blind to regain a sense of sight by transmitting nerve impulses around the damaged neural pathways to ones that are still capable of transmitting signals. Hearing aids are another example of prosthetic devices that have benefited from bionic research.