The Bionic Man

A better prosthetic arm won't come cheap. The world's largest maker of prosthetics, Otto Bock HealthCare, expects that a new prototype will cost about $100,000. While vets will get it free, most civilian insurance companies won't cover it. Even with that price and pent-up demand, the company doesn't expect to do more than break even on a commercial model once the DARPA prototype is done.

As the first patient to test the new technology, Sullivan knows he's lucky. But what he really wants is the next-generation arm. By 2010, Ling hopes, a prosthetic will be on the market with sensors that will allow users to feel heat, cold and pressure. One day Sullivan hopes his prosthetic fingertips will really know when one of his 13 grandchildren is holding his hand. Steve Austin's parts cost $6 million. Jesse Sullivan's would be priceless.

© 2006