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Think. About. It.

We'll still have to wait a few years to mind-meld with our Camrys, but researchers at Toyota have unveiled an advanced brain sensing system that controls the movement of a wheelchair by reading a user's thoughts alone. By processing patterns in brain waves, the system can propel a wheelchair forward, as well as make turns, with virtually no discernable delay between thought and movement.

Developed by researchers at BSI-Toyota Collaboration Center, the brain machine interface technology can return a response from a thought stimulus in just 125 milliseconds, whole seconds faster than existing technology, in effect creating real-time responsiveness. Five electroencephalography sensors stationed above the regions of the brain that deal with motor movement interpret patterns in the signals generated by the user. Further, the software interpreting the signals adapts to a particular user's patterns of thinking, achieving 95% accuracy after just one week of three-hour training sessions.

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The John Robinson Story

Even though he stands just 3-foot-9, was born without hands and has short legs with no knees, all of his life John Robinson strived to be thought of as just another fellow. He built a life, with a regular-guy family and a regular-guy job, never wanting to think of himself as exceptional or for others to think of him that way.

"Get Off Your Knees: The John Robinson Story," an hourlong documentary that Swinton produced, directed, edited and helped shoot. It premieres at 8 tonight on WMHT-TV Ch. 17, with an encore at 7 p.m. Sunday. The program also will be offered to stations nationwide through American Public Television, and a DVD version is available. A book with a similar title, "Get Off Your Knees: A Story of Faith, Courage, and Determination," co-written by Robinson and golf writer Dave Allen, has been published by Syracuse University Press.

Mount McKinley

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- The group of wounded warriors calling themselves Operation Denali that set out to climb Mount McKinley reached their goal Tuesday.

But not everyone made it. Two climbers turned back after concerns about altitude sickness. The other four, however, reached the summit.

Matt Nyman, a leg amputee who fought in Iraq, and John Kuniholm, an arm amputee who also served in Iraq, are expected to be OK.

The team leader says the group reached camp at 14,000 feet, but shortly after that the altitude started to get to some of the team members.

"It was a very frustrating thing I know personally for both John and Matt and also to the team," said team leader Marc Hoffmeister. "But the impact in altitude is something few of us can predict and their performance was exemplary and all of us are very proud of what they achieved during the climb."

Nyman reached 17,200 feet while Kuniholm reached 16,200 feet.

The group is still on schedule and plans to return to Talkeetna on June 21.

Orthobiologics

Just how big is the potential market for your products?

The latest industry data estimates the size of the worldwide orthopedics market at $25 billion as of 2007. Strong growth in the industry is expected to continue, driven by aging baby boomers, the desire for active lifestyles well into retirement, and growth in the incidence of diseases that contribute to orthopedic tissue injuries and impair the ability of the body to heal injuries.

The specific area in which we focus — orthobiologics, which is the development and commercialization of biologically active, regenerative therapies — is leading the transition in orthopedics from passive, mechanical implants to biological solutions designed to enhance the regenerative potential of orthopedic tissues.

As you suggest, it is a growing therapeutic approach in orthopedics. In fact, orthobiologics, in particular bone grafting-related products, is one of the fastest-growing segments within the orthopedics market. According to recent market research reports, the global orthobiologics market was estimated to be $4.2 billion in 2007. With a growth rate of 17 percent, it is projected to almost double by 2012. Given that we are positioned to be one of the leaders of this therapeutic revolution, we are excited about our future growth opportunities.

I tell them I am really Iron Man

Cpl. McCart is one of a relatively small number in the U.S. to receive the i-LIMB Hand, a next-generation prosthesis. More than 600 have been distributed around the world, about two-thirds of those in the U.S., with many of them going to patients at military hospitals or the VA, said Karl Lindborg, the head of clinical advocacy for Touch Bionics in the U.S.

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Seward Inspires

The crowd roared as the top men’s runners finished Grandma’s Marathon, but one of the loudest cheers was for a straggler from the earlier Garry Bjorklund Half-Marathon.

Anne Marie Seward of Maple Grove, Minn., finished in 3 hours, 26 minutes, 18 seconds, nothing extraordinary, except for the fact that she has only one leg.

Seward fractured her skull and crushed her left foot in a car accident in 1980 that sent her to the hospital for 77 days. Doctors tried to save her foot but had to amputate her leg just below the knee. She runs with a prosthesis.

“The heat just got to me, but I just wanted to finish, so that was great,” said Seward, a 56-year-old mother of three. “The crowd and the people I met along the way helped me get through it.”

Prosthetics have come a long way, meaning Seward can point to poor weather or inadequate training when she has a bad time, rather than blame discomfort or pain with her prosthesis. Still, she said her orthopedic surgeon said she has to exert 40 to 60 percent more energy than the average runner to achieve the same result.

“When I first started running after my accident, it literally felt like I was wearing a peg leg, but it is so much better now,” Seward said. “There are so many more amputees running and doing triathlons, and that’s great.”

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That Old Drummer

Published June 22, 2009 06:44 am - Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen said anyone who attends the band's concert in Scranton on Sunday is bound to have a "jolly good time." But he has more to offer.

Allen and his wife, Lauren Monroe, are the founders of the Raven Drum Foundation, an organization that seeks to heal individuals through drumming.

"I'm kind of the inspiration for the foundation itself," he said. "... I'm coming from a place of experience."

Allen was involved in a serious car accident on Dec. 31, 1984, outside his hometown, Sheffield, England. In the accident, he lost his left arm, but he returned to drumming after his recovery.

That Old Cub

CHICAGO | In their heart of hearts, the last thing Ron Santo and Wayne Poledziewski wanted to chat about Sunday were the nuances of a prosthesis.

But the two men chatted amiably about that subject just underneath the Wrigley Field upper-deck press box because they share several important bonds. On Father's Day, the pair of grandfathers who are rabid Cubs fans -- Santo the team legend-turned-radio color announcer and Munster resident Poledziewski -- compared notes as amputees.

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From the Chairman of Starwood Hotels

For my Midwest Chapter of the American Association of Orthotists and Prosthetists peeps.  After I presented my "Greening Your Bottom Line" presentation at the meeting last week - and specifically talked about priority parking for hybrid cars...I found this on Frits van Paasschen's blog. (Fris being the CEO of Starwood Hotels.)

"...I am very passionate about being environmentally responsible, and that extends from our hotels, to our corporate offices, to my home. At our offices we recently bid farewell to Styrofoam, said hello to reusable coffee mugs. We reward employees who drive hybrid cars with priority parking, and we have shuttles we use for our growing pool of employees who take public transportation to work. On a personal note, I try hard to be green myself, and my kids do a good job keeping our family honest. We only have one car, and my kids bike to school. We also installed solar panels on our house and have a compost pile in the backyard, in addition to regular recycling. These are all, admittedly, small steps…but they are steps in the right direction..."

OBSCMT

The Otto Bock Science Centre Medical Technology opened to several hundred guests yesterday, 16 June, in Berlin, Germany, showcasing unique technology to the world.

Visitors to Germany’s capital can now see this new attraction, which began its construction March 2008. The official inauguration of the building had many distinguished guests, including Federal Minister of External Affairs Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Premier of Thuringia Dieter Althaus, Mayor of Berlin Klaus Wowereit, and International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Chief Operating Officer Georg Schlachtenberger.

Located on Ebertstrasse, between Potsdamer Platz and the Brandenburg Gate, the centre offers a wealth of knowledge through multimedia installations and various interactive experiences. With the motto “Grasping what moves us”, the medical technology company Otto Bock is offering multi-faceted insight for anyone who is interested in the area of human mobility.

The Science Centre Medical Technology building has three levels and a total of 450 square metres forming an open area. All visitors for example can explore the true complexity of seemingly ordinary movement patterns like walking and gripping. Also, the way an understanding of biological processes inspires research and development in the field of medical technology is clearly illustrated.

As innovation for people with a disability is one of the focal points, visitors at the Otto Bock Science Centre Medical Technology can additionally experience the functionality of prosthesis, orthoses and wheelchairs directly. A virtual obstacle course for instance around the Pariser Platz in Berlin, is part of the showcase, further outlining the areas of interest.

Otto Bock is one of the IPC’s world wide partners. It was founded as a start-up company in Berlin 90 years ago and is today’s global market leader in the field of prosthetics with subsidiaries in 40 countries around the world. Additional business areas include orthotics, wheelchairs and, since 2006, neurostimulation. All national and international activities are co-ordinated from the company headquarters in Duderstadt, Germany.

For more information about Otto Bock, please visit www.ottobock.com.