A New Grip On Life

Regarding the previous comment: "What the article doesn't mention is the prohibitive cost." As production increases, costs for these high-tech prosthetic devices will decline. This is a basic principle of economies of scale. We can thank the military for a number of today's "necessities" that we all-too-often take for granted. It's the enormous budget of the military that brought the transistor, the Internet, and GPS navigation to the average citizen. In time, these costly prosthetics will decline in price as production increases -- again, based on the aforementioned economic principle. In the mean time, our nation's wounded warriors will get them first ... and deservedly so.

What the article doesn't mention is the prohibitive cost. Currenlty, a non-military, state-of-the-art computerized light-weight artificial leg for someone with an above-the-knee amputation can run $50,000. And up. Arms, even more. No one is arguing that our veterans deserve the best we have to offer, but for their civilian counterparts, all that technology is out of reach.

In the non-military world, health insurance companies usually only cover a mechanical artificial leg for an above-knee amputee - the computerized versions, as well as some of the lighter more streamlined versions, are frequently not covered - they are viewed as "Not Medically Necessary" in HMO lingo.

Cutting edge science is indeed wonderful, but those of us in healthcare are forced to ask the difficult question - who will pay?

I've toured DEKA and a friend of mine used to work there. I have to say I'm impressed with the IBOT, Segway and their dialysis machine but I think Dean Kamen should give some credit to the amazing people he has working for him. The initial idea may be Dean's but the impossible engineering and development process are done by amazingly brilliant people which seem to never be mentioned by him or the journalists covering him. It always reads like he's some mad scientist working alone when the reality is that he has hundreds of people working for him.

I've toured DEKA and a friend of mine used to work there. I have to say I'm impressed with the IBOT, Segway and their dialysis machine but I think Dean Kamen should give some credit to the amazing people he has working for him. The initial idea may be Dean's but the impossible engineering and development process are done by amazingly brilliant people which seem to never be mentioned by him or the journalists covering him. It always reads like he's some mad scientist working alone when the reality is that he has hundreds of people working for him.

Having met and talked with Dean Kamen it is no surprise that he would be able to build something like this for our vets and other disabled americans. I wish we had a few more Dean Kamen's and Woody Flowers in the world.. we'd be in a lot better place!

I want one, I mean I REALLY want one. I want to be able to hold my grandkids hands....

Sure would be great for my grandson that lost his right arm (up to his shoulder - he has about a 3" stumP) when he was 8. He has had two arms but neither can be used as he has no way to support it. Say what you will about wars, but they sure do speedup the develpment process medically wise

This story displays the genius of American's and what we can accomplish. What a breakthrough for those who have given so much. Thanks to all those who have undertaken the challenge to improve lives and to those who inspired them.