Prosthetic News and Research

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Prosthetic (Prosthesis) devices, such as an artificial leg, that replace a part of the body. Prostheses are typically used to replace parts lost by injury (traumatic) or missing from birth (congenital) or to supplement defective body parts. Inside the body, artificial heart valves are in common use with artificial hearts and lungs seeing less common use but under active technology development. Other medical devices and aids that can be considered prosthetics include artificial eyes, palatal obturator, gastric bands, and dentures.

Scientists decode inner speech from brain activity with high accuracy

Scientists have pinpointed brain activity related to inner speech-the silent monologue in people's heads-and successfully decoded it on command with up to 74% accuracy.

14 Aug 2025

Review highlights the evolution of research related to implantable brain-computer interfaces

A review published in Advanced Science highlights the evolution of research related to implantable brain-computer interfaces (iBCIs), which decode brain signals that are then translated into commands for external devices to potentially benefit individuals with impairments such as loss of limb function or speech.

23 Jul 2025

Novel method to improve the biocompatibility and chronic stability of neural electrode implants

An international research team, including scientists from the Institut de Neurociències at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), has developed a new solution to reduce the immune response triggered by neural prosthetics used after limb amputations or severe nerve injuries.

30 Jun 2025

New test can measure performance for lower-limb amputees using bone-anchored prostheses

A test developed at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus that measures both prosthetic donning time and mobility in lower-limb amputation, shows that a prosthesis anchored to bone goes on faster than a traditional socket-style prosthesis.

23 May 2025

New auditory brainstem implant shows promise for patients with Neurofibromatosis type 2

A new study co-led by Mass General Brigham researchers points to a promising new type of auditory brainstem implant (ABI) that could benefit people who are deaf due to Neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) and other severe inner ear abnormalities that prevent them from receiving cochlear implants.

16 May 2025

Saving teeth through regeneration offers long-term benefits over implants

A major long-term study presented at EuroPerio11, the world's leading congress on gum health and implant dentistry by the European Federation of Periodontology (EFP), reveals that saving teeth with severe bone loss through periodontal regeneration (PR) offers benefits equal to - if not greater than - replacing them with dental implants or bridges.

12 May 2025

Soft brainstem implant offers new hope for restoring hearing

Over the last couple of decades, many people have regained hearing functionality with the most successful neurotech device to date: the cochlear implant.

18 Apr 2025

Watch: Why insurance companies are denying coverage for prosthetic limbs

PBS News Weekend's Ali Rogin spoke with KFF Health News contributor Michelle Andrews about what some people with missing limbs consider a disparity in health insurance coverage: Though a knee replacement likely would be covered, a prosthetic knee isn't always.

18 Apr 2025

Rice University hosts global health innovation competition

At the Rice360 Institute for Global Health Technologies' 15th annual Undergraduate Design Competition, the future of global health innovation was on full display.

17 Apr 2025

Embolic protection device does not reduce stroke rate in TAVR procedure

A device designed to remove embolic material—fragments of tissue that can be released into the bloodstream during transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR)—did not result in a reduction in the rate of stroke, according to a randomized trial presented at the American College of Cardiology's Annual Scientific Session.

31 Mar 2025

Negative stiffness in calf muscles enhances high-speed hopping

Researchers at the University of Tokyo reveal the way our legs adapt to fast movements. When people hop at high speeds, key muscle fibers in the calf shorten rather than lengthen as forces increase, which they call "negative stiffness." This counterintuitive process helps the leg become stiffer, allowing for faster motion. The findings could improve training, rehabilitation, and even the design of prosthetic limbs or robotic exoskeletons.

27 Mar 2025

FDA-approved devices used to treat cardiovascular diseases

Heart disease, also called cardiovascular disease, can have serious consequences. It's the leading cause of death for adults in the U.S. Medical devices approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, such as pacemakers and defibrillators, have extended and improved the lives of millions of people living with heart disease.

21 Feb 2025

Biohybrid hand with muscle tissue mimics real-life movements

A biohybrid hand which can move objects and do a scissor gesture has been built by a team at the University of Tokyo and Waseda University in Japan.

14 Feb 2025

Mechanical aortic valves showed improved long-term survival in patients aged 60 and younger

A late-breaking study presented today at the 2025 Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) Annual Meeting reveals that mechanical aortic valve replacements (AVRs) provide significant long-term survival benefits for patients aged 60 and younger compared to bioprosthetic valves. The study, leveraging data from the STS Adult Cardiac Surgery Database (ACSD), offers the most comprehensive analysis to date of prosthetic valve outcomes, encompassing over 100,000 patients.

26 Jan 2025

Brain stimulation enables nuanced feeling in prosthetic hands

You can probably complete an amazing number of tasks with your hands without looking at them. But if you put on gloves that muffle your sense of touch, many of those simple tasks become frustrating. Take away proprioception - your ability to sense your body's relative position and movement - and you might even end up breaking an object or injuring yourself.

16 Jan 2025

Health insurers limit coverage of prosthetic limbs, questioning their medical necessity

When Michael Adams was researching health insurance options in 2023, he had one very specific requirement: coverage for prosthetic limbs.

6 Jan 2025

New artificial muscle mimics natural tissue with high elasticity and toughness

The study, led by Dr. Cheng-Hui Li from the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, and Dr. Pengfei Zheng from the Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, successfully developed an artificial muscle with mechanical properties similar to natural muscle tissue.

2 Jan 2025