Prosthetic arms designed for children born without limbs, due to exposure to the drug thalidomide. Thalidomide was developed in West Germany in the mid-1950s and was initially used as a sedative and an anti-emetic until the discovery that it caused severe fetal malformations. The arms were developed at Princess Margaret Rose Hospital, Edinburgh. The muscles around the child’s shoulder blades were used to control movement of one of the artificial arms. The movements were powered by compressed carbon dioxide stored in cylinders in the other “passive” arm.
Sum of the Parts: Prosthetics Through the Centuries
People have been devising fake arms, legs, noses and virtually every other body part for centuries. Here, a quick look at some of the devices that humans have invented to replace -- or at least approximate -- the irreplaceable.
Prosthetic Arms for Thalidomide Kids
Full List
Prosthetics
- Tycho Brahe’s Nose
- Prosthetic Eyes
- Prosthetic Ear
- Hammer Hand
- Facial Prosthetics
- Variety of Prostheses
- Artificial Leg, Italy
- Artificial Arms, Real Saw
- Artificial Noses
- Prosthetic Arms for Thalidomide Kids
- Artificial Foot
- Jaipur Foot, Interior View
- Prosthetic Hand With Fork
- Prosthetic Leg
- Prosthetic Breast
- False Eye
- Life-Like Arm, With Tattoo
- False Teeth
- WWI-Era Facial Prostheses
- The Full Prosthetic: Bionic Man