For truck driver Sreenivasan, losing a leg in a road accident was not just a blow to his independence, but a crushing blow to his livelihood. Similar stories play out across India's vast rural hinterland, where amputations are common thanks to unsafe agricultural machinery, poor road and rail construction, and dangerous snakebites. To keep these people working, a new effort is under way to make practical, affordable prosthetic devices. Fred de Sam Lazaro reports, in a special for PBS NewsHour.
The Indian government is investing in a new system to manufacture artificial limbs. The goal is to cut down on the huge waiting lists and improve the quality of the prosthetics produced. This is part of a wider initiative to boost economic growth and get disabled people back to work.
Most insurance policies in India cover the cost of a prosthetic limb, although it is important to check your policy details carefully. It is also a good idea to take out additional insurance to cover the cost of replacement parts and other ongoing maintenance and care.
A growing number of Indian patients are turning to India for their prosthetic limbs, which are cheaper than their Western counterparts. The country is also home to some of the best manufacturers in the world, producing both conventional and endoskeletal prosthetics. These advanced limbs are designed to support movement and provide increased stability and control.
One such company is the Bangalore-based Social Hardware, which produces low-cost prosthetics for amputees in developing countries. Its founder, Abhit Kumar, saw what he calls a "gaping hole" in the market and set about filling it with his startup.
The firm uses a sophisticated CAD-CAM system to design and manufacture limbs, and a workshop to make them. It is a pioneer in the use of an endoskeletal leg, which is designed to be worn like a normal leg and include sensors that allow the user to move his or her limb naturally. A more advanced Artificial Limbs in India version of this limb is a myo-electric hand or wrist unit that can pick up nerve-end signals from the amputee and facilitate movement.
In addition to being cheaper than Western limbs, the endoskeletal and myo-electric limbs are more comfortable to wear. They are also more responsive to movement, making them easier to use for everyday activities and sports. This is why they are particularly suited to India's active disability population.
A major challenge in manufacturing these limbs is getting enough raw material, which is expensive. The raw materials are required for both the limbs themselves and the components that make them function, including sockets and feet. To combat this, the firm is attempting to reduce costs by using locally sourced materials and adopting a more efficient production process. This includes a 3-D printer, which can take just three hours to make a prototype. This allows the prosthetics to be tailored to each individual
0 comments:
Post a Comment