About Surgical Prosthetic Equipment

Surgical prosthetic equipment includes a variety of products that replace missing body parts and help people live fuller lives. Prosthetic devices are often used to restore functionality in the hands, legs, eyes, ears, and teeth. They are also used to substitute for organs, such as the heart and kidneys, during surgeries that remove them.

Depending on the type of prosthesis, they can be either aesthetic (used for looks) or functional (used to replace lost functions). Cost depends on the reason for using a particular prosthetic. The cost may be covered by insurance, or it may be paid for by the patient out of pocket.

Cosmetic prosthetics are primarily used to disguise disfigurement and improve self-image and confidence in amputation patients who do not need prosthetics for functional use. The bionics companies Philadelphia provides prosthetics that are often made from silicone or PVC to simulate a natural limb. They can be designed to include features such as freckles, veins, hair, and tattoos.

The goal of a lower extremity prosthesis is to provide a stable surface, absorb shock, mimic a natural joint, replace lost muscle function, and restore aesthetics. Terminal devices include a leg, knee, ankle, and foot that are set in place surgically.

Upper extremity prostheses replace the arms and hands and can be arranged in different ways, depending on the patient’s needs. A shoulder unit, elbow unit, and wrist unit are common. Some of these units are combined in a hybrid prosthesis, which also incorporates myoelectrical and mechanical devices to perform multiple functions.

Traditionally, lower extremity amputees have had difficulty with walking due to the complexities of movement associated with their missing limb. Several improvements have been made in the past few decades to make it easier for amputees to walk and stand.

The prosthetics company in Philadelphia provides newer designs that include carbon fiber, hydraulics, mechanical linkages, motors, and computer microprocessors to give more control over the limb. This improved muscle control can be a key factor in making a transfemoral amputee’s gait more energy efficient and less painful.

Some of these advances have been made possible by targeted muscle re-innervation surgery, or TMR, which uses artificial intelligence to reroute the nerves that control a missing arm or leg so they can be read by the muscles that use them. This can allow an amputee to simply think about opening their hand or fist and the limb will move.

Another way to increase muscle control is by combining a lower limb prosthesis with an upper limb prosthesis. The two limbs can be connected by a connector that is secured into the stump and socket by suction.

The newest generation of lower extremity prostheses use a multi-articulated prosthesis that replicates the complex movement associated with a natural leg. The multi-articulated design allows the wearer to flex their knee during swing phase, while still providing structural support during stance. This increases their ability to walk and minimizes the negative impact of amputation. You can get more enlightened on this topic by reading here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthotist.