The fundamental technical difficulty is due to the fact that the natural human motor system is so amazingly well-engineered. “Trying to develop something that is even remotely like a hand or a foot is automatically high tech.” Intelligent prosthetics not only have to be smart, they also have to be robust, light and waterproof. Ideally, they should also require very little power, so that they do not have to be recharged all the time. The sensors need to work reliably, no matter whether the wearer is moving, cold or sweating. This requires biocompatibility of the used materials and the surface of the body.

Ethical borderline: Does everyone have a right to high tech?


Prof. Schilling primarily sees an ethical boundary in the discussion on who should be given access to these modern aids, and who shouldn’t, as high tech is of course very expensive. “Does everyone have the right to be provided with state-of-the-art prosthetics, should the need arise? Which standard will supportive society accept? How much do we want to invest in further development? How can we ensure that people outside of our supportive society benefit from these developments?” Prof. Schilling believes the answers to these ethical societal questions will fundamentally determine future developments in this field.

Exoskeletons, for example, are already a reality and part of the field of wearables. The EksoGT robot exoskeleton is the first commercial robot exoskeleton to be approved for use by the American Food and Drug Administration FDA in cases of hemiplegia caused by strokes and for injuries to the spine at the height of T4 to L5 and C7 to T3.

On November 14, the Fraunhofer IGD will vividly demonstrate how augmented reality is moving into operating rooms at the MEDICA CONNECTED HEALTHCARE FORUM. At the forum’s daily MEDICA DISRUPT, sessions are dedicated to fascinating product innovations. Here, over fifty start-ups will present medical solutions, daily from 1:00 – 2:00 pm. On November 14 a particular highlight will take place from 1:00 – 5:00 pm: the finalists in this year’s MEDICA App COMPETITION will take the stage to present their solutions and the winner of the “World’s Best Health App” will be announced.

For information about the English-language MECIDA CONNECTED HEALTH CARE FORUM, its twelve sessions and the exhibition area:: http://www.medica-tradefair.com/mchf2.

Information about the MEDICA HEALTH IT FORUM program (held in German and English): http://www.medica-tradefair.com/mhif2. For MEDICA 2018 information: http://www.medica-tradefair.com


Author: Dr Lutz Retzlaff, freelance medical journalist (Neuss, Germany)

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