Jul 15, 2009 5:26 am US/Eastern
Go! New York: Bionic Body Parts Becoming A Reality
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
Once only found in science fiction, bionic body parts is becoming a reality.
Sure Alex Erwiah walks a little awkwardly, but it's a huge difference from what he was like right after he had a stroke.
"I couldn't do anything at all. I couldn't do anything," said Erwiah. "My hands were not moving and my legs were not working. I was totally, totally dead."
That stroke more than 2 years ago left Alex with profound weakness on his right side, a common aftermath of a stroke and a major cause of disability.
Dr. Joel Stein of Weill Cornell Medical College says the effects of a stroke
are what keeps people from doing the things they'd like.
"It's a lot of what keeps people from doing the things they want," said Dr. Stein. "To get out in the community, to care for themselves."
So how best to strengthen Alex's arm? It may just be a robo-arm. Electrode patches on his muscles detect when he's trying to move his arm. Then the robo-arm gives him a boost, just enough extra strength to complete the movement. Robo-arm may also be helping rewire Alex's brain.
"Helping the brain form new connections or strengthening existing connections and essentially that happens through practice," said Dr. Stein. "And any practice will do that. What this does is facilitate practice, which makes it easier to do."
Even a little bit of extra motion and strength can make a world of difference in a stroke patient's quality of life.
With the help of the robo-arm, Alex's life was improving.
"I could open the door. I could close the door. I could even eat with it," said Alex. "Now I can even lift my arm, and we can be friends."
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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