Prosthetic limbs controlled by the brain may be possible now that scientists have figured out how to attach limbs to the human skeleton without fear of rejection or infection. Deer antlers inspired the breakthrough.

Prosthetic limbs can be fixed to the implants in a manner that opens up the possibility of connecting them to the nervous system.

Successful Experiments with Fingers

That the implants stick out like horns is no accident; deer antlers were the inspiration for the technology.

Up to now, it has been impossible to seal the skin around such an implant and to prevent living cells from attempting to heal the wound and reject it.

A porous titanium implant that allows skin to grow through it was the solution. The technology has already had a major impact on a group of trial patients missing thumbs and fingers.

Around 10 patients so far have participated in the study at London's Mount Vernon Hospital. One man has been able to use a pen and write for the first time in 15 years.

Deer Antlers Provided Inspiration

"We wanted to develop something that permanently breaches the skin so an external implant can be attached to the skeleton ," said Dr. Catherine Pendegrass, who helped develop the technique at University College London for her PhD.

Considering the problem led the scientists to study deer antlers.

"We determined that the bone that grows through the skin on a deer's head is very different to normal bone," said Dr Pendegrass. "It's much more porous. The pores enable skin to grow through it."

The researchers adopted the same simple principle, with astounding success.

"The results of the trial have been very encouraging," Dr. Pendegrass said.

(c) 2006 Daily Post; Liverpool. All rights reserved.
(c) 2006 Daily News Central. All rights reserved.