Constable gets artificial arm

Helping hand

Ramesh was admitted to Hosmat hospital after he met with an accident, while riding a two-wheeler last December.  A lorry hit his vehicle severely injuring his right upper limb and damaged all the nerves, blood vessels, bones, muscles and tendons.
As a result of the accident, his right arm had to be amputated. He was later fitted with a myoelectric arm. In Myoelectric arm, small electric motors are used to move the replaced limb. These motors can be found in the terminal device (hand, wrist or elbow).

Working

An electrically-powered prosthesis utilises a rechargeable battery system to power the motors. Whenever a muscle in the body is contracted, or flexed, a small electrical signal called an EMG in the range of 5 to 20 microvolts is created by a chemical interaction in the body. This power is used to move the limb.

One of the key components of the myoelectric arm is the electrode attached to the surface of the skin to record the EMG signal.  Once recorded, the signal is amplified, then processed by a controller that switches the motors on or off in the hand, wrist, or elbow to produce movement and function. There is no wires implanted in the arm with this device and works by surface electrodes.

The cost of the operation was Rs 4.20 lakh and was entirely borne by the Police Department.  Ramesh has also returned to work with the police department. But the department has  shifted him to a clerical post to make it easier for him.