Research Assessment #5

 

Date: 23 October 2017

 

Subject: Mechanical Engineering and Prosthetics

 

MLA Citation:

    Contini, B.S.M.E, Renato. “Prosthetic Research and The Engineering Profession.” Digital        Resource Foundation, www.oandplibrary.org/al/1954_03_047.asp.                                                 

 

Assessment:

   

    Mechanical engineering can help people all around the world.  When people hear the term mechanical engineering they think of a car or some sort of machine even though that is not always the case. Mechanical engineering is a very wide field which allows for a wide variety of job placement and projects available. Mechanical engineering can be very useful in the medical field as well. One aspects of the engineering field is that has always been interesting to me is prosthetic limbs. Mechanical engineers can help in the design, functionality, and the production of these prosthetic limbs.

 

    As the prosthetic limbs are becoming my technically advanced it is taking more of an advanced eye to see what could be improved. This is where engineers come in. They are going to be the key to creating the technology that needs to be created in order to help the people in need. I am researching about prosthetic limbs because many of my family members work in the medical field and have showed some interest. I have always wanted to help people with whatever career path I went down. By helping design prosthetic limbs I could combine my engineering knowledge and am able to help people in need.

 

    The newer models of the prosthetic limbs have been mimicking human motion more than ever. It is hard to mimic the exact motion of the human arm because it does not have an exact motion path it follows. Engineering is able to help track that path and implement new techniques to help make it easier for the arms and fingers of the prosthetics to move as the person wants it to. Each prosthetic is different for everyone which causes a problem because they need to be fitted for the exact specifications of the person's physical ability. By having to make it to each person’s needs the mechanical engineers are going to have to make adjustments and fit it to the person’s motion patterns including stride, velocity, length, weight, and impact force.

 

After reading this article I have discovered how hard it is to design a prosthetic limb because of the small details. Mechanical engineers are now being used in the design process because they are the only people that are able to add the intricate details of the movements of the arm. This interests me because I have always loved to problem solve and love to help people. I would be able to give someone something they lost back who deserve to have to back. I would be making a difference in the world. I would rather make a prosthetic than be a doctor because I would be doing what I am good at, yet staying in the family field. Making a prosthetic arm can always be more efficient and improved which gives me a motive for doing it because I know I can always make a prosthetic limb better. After my research I have opened up a new possibility into my journey. I would be able to use my engineering skills while working to help people in need while being challenged everyday to make something better because it can always be improved.