The Human Machine: Reimagining Prosthetics

Nearly half of all arm amputees choose not to use their prosthesis, despite improvements in technology. Prosthetics can be too difficult to operate, unintuitive, and don’t allow amputees to sense pressure or temperature. At UC Davis, engineers, neuroscientists and surgeons are collaborating to solve this problem. In this episode of Unfold, we look at how the combination of surgery and machine learning is making life easier for amputees. 

Jonathon Schofield, assistant professor in the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department, College of Engineering 

Wilsaan Joiner, neuroscientist and associate professor in the Department of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, College of Biological Sciences

Andrew Li, assistant professor of plastic and reconstructive surgery, UC Davis Health 

Clifford Pereira, associate professor of plastic and reconstructive surgery, UC Davis Health 

Laduan Smedley, certified prosthetist-orthotist and biomedical engineer, UC Davis Health

Fehran Maher, certified prosthetist-orthotist, UC Davis Health

David Brockman, retired firefighter, hand amputee with prosthesis