H2O2 Powered Prosthetic Arm

You just never know what H2O2 will be up to next…

According to a recent article in WIRED Magazine,
a new prosthetic arm under development at Vanderbilt
University uses rocket technology to power its 22 joints,
and five moving fingers…

It’s a very high tech chemical reaction inside a well
insulated chamber that employs cylinders and pistons
to move the joints of the prosthetic elbow, wrist and
even the fingers.

Compared to currently available prosthetic arms which
have only 2 joints, this is a big advance… but it’s not
quite ready yet.

The hydrogen peroxide reacts with a small amount of
iridium, which creates a 450 degree blast of vapor to
fire the cylinders and power the pistons.

Now that’s a seriously powerful chemical reaction! But
word is, it’s all safely contained inside the prosthetic arm;
so not to worry!

It will be another year or so before the final version is
ready for actual testing with a whole team of scientists
still needed to produce the electrodes that will need to
be implanted in users to connect their nerves to the new
arm’s firing system.

Just goes to show you, you never know what new
application for H2O2 is coming around the corner when
you least expect it!

Posted: November 20th, 2007 under Blog.