Prosthetic devices replace body parts, usually because the part being replaced is missing or damaged -- sometimes from disease and sometimes from injury. Many of the prosthetic innovations here replace missing or injured arms, legs, hands or feet. Not all of them are human; animals sometimes need prosthetic devices too. There is no shortage of creativity in prosthetic innovations, and the benefits that they can provide are beyond question.
Implications - DO NOT SAY WE
It is incredible how far we have come in our ability to create limbs for the limbless. Flip through this series of 26 prosthetic innovations to see the great diversity of in the field.
27 Prosthetic Innovations
27
Wheeled Paws
Hoppa the Roller Dog Gives Hope to Unfortunate Pooches
26
Bionic Dogs
Maltese Puppy With Front Wheels, Not Paws
25
Prosthetic Race Controversies
Aimee Mullins Confronts Athletic Advantage & Disability
24
From Amputee To Mermaid
A Tale Of A Tail
23
Stylish Artificial Limbs
Outfeet by Aviya Serfaty is a Fashionable Prosthetic Leg
22
Enhancing Arm Prosthetics
The 'METIS Bionic Prosthesis' Offers a 360-Degree Range of Motion
21
Thought Controlled Bionic Arm
20
High-Tech Prosthetics
Colin Matso's Design for Nike Enables the Disabled
19
Prosthetic Arms for Wounded Soldiers
Dean Kamen's Luke Arm Demo
18
Prosthetic Arm Fashion
Huseklepp 'Immaculate' Design Makes Prosthetics Functionally Hip
17
Prosthetic Paws
Oscar the Bionic Cat is the First Feline to Get Two False Legs
16
Bilateral Amputee Makes Controvercial Bid for Able-Bodied 2008 Olympics
15
High-Tech X-Finger Replaces Lost Digits
14
Bionic Hand Transplants
The Otto Bock 'MichelAngelo'
13
Prosthetic Phalanges
The Touch Bionic 'ProDigits' Offer Advanced Dexterity for the Disabled
12
Prosthetics for the Poor
JaipurKnee Project's $20 Artificial Knees to Developing World
11
Bionic Animal Innovation
Hi-Tech Surgery Provides Prosthetic Paw to Footless Pooch
10
Prosthetic Lungs
Respiratory Aids to Wear Around Your Waist
9
Bird Footwear
A Baby African Crowned Crane got a Pair of Green Slippers to Help with Walking
8
Amputee Fins
The Neptune Swimming Aid Will Make a Dolphin Out of You
7
Bilateral Amputee Banned From Olympics (Follow-up)
No Cheetah Blades in Beijing
6
Robotic Legs For Amputees
Iraqi Vet Goes Bionic Thanks to MIT
5
Energy-Recycling Prosthetics
Artificial Foot Makes Walking Easier for Amputees
4
Revolutionary Bionic Hands
Touch Bionics Unveil 'i-LIMB Pulse' Bluetooth-Accesorized Prosthesis
3
Bionic Legs
In the Future, the Rex Could Replace the Wheelchair
2
Realistic Bionic Hands
The Bebionic Hand Looks Amazingly Real and Responsive
1
Cyborg Boots
Michigan Engineers Take Us One Step Closer to Bionic Feet
Related Ideas
Zoo Animal Imposters (UPDATE)
Dogs Dyed to Look Like Tigers and Pandas Advertise Pet Park
Oil Spill Wildlife
Boston.com BP Oil Spill Photography Shows Effect on Animals
Tattooed Amputee Shoots
The Amina Munster Photoshoot is Strangely Captivating
Robotic Exoskeletons
'Wearable Agrirobot' Power Suit Helps Farm Harvest & Pruning
19 Amputation Innovations
From Amputee Models to Self-Amputations
Fashionable Prosthetics
Una Burke's Constricted Creations Are Inspired by Medical Braces
49 Incredible Implants & Transplants
From a Full Face Transplant to Bionic Eyes
Wheeled Paws
Hoppa the Roller Dog Gives Hope to Unfortunate Pooches
Dyed Dogs
10 Extreme Poodles
Ice Queen Amputees
The Viktoria Modesta Amputee Shoot is so Hot it Can Melt Ice
Bionic Dogs
Maltese Puppy With Front Wheels, Not Paws
Hi-Tech Fashion Has Lungs
Smoking Jacket
Models with Missing Arms
Kelly Knox is Britain's Missing Top Model
Prosthetic Race Controversies
Aimee Mullins Confronts Athletic Advantage & Disability
Bionic Eye Restores Sight to the Blind
From Amputee To Mermaid
A Tale Of A Tail
Purse Rats
Capybara Pets May Replace Popular Purse Poodles
Medical Brace Couture
Una Burke's Curious Creations Shot by Marco Balaz for Dolce Vita Magazine
Motorcycle Exoskeletons
Yamaha Deus Ex Machina
Free Transsexual Surgeries
Prosthetic Penis Promotion in Sweden
Super Exoskeletons
Now on Sale
13 Prosthespirations
From Prosthetic Race Controversies to Fashionable Prosthetics
Stylish Artificial Limbs
Outfeet by Aviya Serfaty is a Fashionable Prosthetic Leg
High Tech Post-Mastectomy Fashion
The Lumitact
Real-Life Mermaids
Linden Wolbert has Turned Herself into a Sea Creature
26 Cyborg & Prosthetic Innovations
Tech-Savvy Enhancements to Mother Nature
Lungs Made of Cigarettes
"Stop Consuming Your Body" Anti-Smoking Campaign
Enhancing Arm Prosthetics
The 'METIS Bionic Prosthesis' Offers a 360-Degree Range of Motion
High-Tech Prosthetics
Colin Matso's Design for Nike Enables the Disabled
Prosthetic Arms for Wounded Soldiers
Dean Kamen's Luke Arm Demo
Misplaced Limbs Art
The Ruadh DeLone 'Hospital Room' Images are Disturbing
16 Robotic Exoskeletons
From Subaquatic Exosketetons to Robotic Legs
35 Zoo Innovations
From Panda Survival School to Lesbian Breeding Attempts
16 Innovations for & from the Disabled
From Street Performers to High-Tech Prosthetics
Prosthetic Arm Fashion
Huseklepp 'Immaculate' Design Makes Prosthetics Functionally Hip
Croc Pet Beds
The Sasquatch! Pet Bed Will Embarrass Your Dog
Anti-Smoking Gimmicks
Coughing Lung Ashtray
Prosthetic Paws
Oscar the Bionic Cat is the First Feline to Get Two False Legs
Bilateral Amputee Makes Controvercial Bid for Able-Bodied 2008 Olympics
High-Tech X-Finger Replaces Lost Digits
Robot Inspired Footwear
I Ashi Bionicus Shoes by Liam Fahy
Bionic Hand Transplants
The Otto Bock 'MichelAngelo'
Lifelike Bionic Hand
The Touch Bionics i-LIMB
Touchscreen Heart-Lung Machines
The Maquet Cardiohelp
Prosthetic Limb Looks
Kiev Fashion Designer Elena Burenina Incorporates Prosthetics
Canine Royalty
The BGD Stray Animals Foundation Campaign Humanizes Pets
Paraplegic Support Suits
ReWalk Exoskeleton
Lung Ashtray
Gives Thought
Humanizing Dogs
Canines Doing Chores
Diet Pill for Obese Dogs
Tattooed Plywood Limbs
MartinaLIMBS Allows You to Buy Prosthetics With Tattoos
Predator-Free Safaris
Travelers Insurance Campaign Promises to Keep You Safe & Sound
Prosthetics for the Poor
JaipurKnee Project's $20 Artificial Knees to Developing World
Bionic Touch Sensations
Oak Ridge National Laboratory Replicates Touch With Carbon Nanotubes
USB Replacement Fingers
Finnish Techie Has Handy Device Embedded In Prosthetic
Political Treat for Dogs
Bush Biskits
Bionic Animal Innovation
Hi-Tech Surgery Provides Prosthetic Paw to Footless Pooch
Eerie Limb Art
Anders Krisar has a Fascination with Texture and Limbs
Wearing Dogs
The Pooch Fanny Pack Lets You Strap Your Canine to Your Hips
Vapor Compression Distiller
Dean Kamen Tackles Global Water Availability
Prosthetic Lungs
Respiratory Aids to Wear Around Your Waist
Cyborg Prosthetics for Humans
The Eye-Mounted Webcam
Amputee Fins
The Neptune Swimming Aid Will Make a Dolphin Out of You
Doggles
The Eyewear for Dogs
Bilateral Amputee Banned From Olympics (Follow-up)
No Cheetah Blades in Beijing
Robotic Legs For Amputees
Iraqi Vet Goes Bionic Thanks to MIT
Energy-Recycling Prosthetics
Artificial Foot Makes Walking Easier for Amputees
Mountain-Climbing Wheelchairs
The All-Terrain Wheelchair by Francisco Lupin
Wooden Animals
Wood-Chip Sculptures by Sergei Bobkov are Very Detailed
Bionic Arms for Snackers
The Potechi Bionic Grabber is Great for Couch Potatoes
Revolutionary Bionic Hands
Touch Bionics Unveil 'i-LIMB Pulse' Bluetooth-Accesorized Prosthesis
Bionic Eyes 2.0
Retinal Implants Go High-Def
Realistic Bionic Hands
The Bebionic Hand Looks Amazingly Real and Responsive
Pet-Ready Resorts
The Disney World Best Friends Pet Care Resort is a Luxury Vacation for your Pooc
Water-Filled Eyeglasses
Josh Silver's Adaptive Eyewear Can Be Adjusted for Individual Sight
Subaquatic Exoskeletons
The PISCES For Underwater Flight
Deaf Dancers
Paralympic 'Hello Stars' Performance
Skiing With Dogs
Eco-Friendly Uphill Skiing In The Alps... With Your Canine Companion
Human-Like Mechanical Limbs
The Shadow Dexterous Hand Can Mimic Our Movements
Living Weed Eaters
Goats and Sheep Provide Natural Vegetation Management
Cyborg Boots
Michigan Engineers Take Us One Step Closer to Bionic Feet
Sensory Robotic Limbs
Scientists Confirm First Feeling Hand
Superhero Anatomy Enhancers
The Power Loader Exoskeleton Lets Users Lift 220 Pounds
Abandoned Dog Communities
Brazil's Dog Favela Shelters True Slumdogs
False Legs for Frogs
Brullie the Bullfrog Gets a New Lease on Life
Robotic Music Accessories
Christopher Conte's Biomechanical Mike Stand is SKYNET-Approved