A step in the right direction

The article discusses how improving prosthetic design and manufacturing can better the lives of today's amputees. Prostheses, or any artificial device that replaces a missing body part such as a limb, tooth, eye or heart valve lost through trauma, disease or congenital defect, were first developed in the early civilizations of Egypt, Greece and Rome. With the birth of these civilizations, the scientific approach toward medicine and subsequently prosthetic science arrived. New prosthetic components/devices and manufacturing processes have been incorporated in recent years. For example, some new prostheses have pressure sensors attached, although most have proven ineffective. An ideal prosthesis should allow the patient to perform normal daily activities, provide needed comfort and fit, and ultimately become an integral part of a patient's body.