Technology that is used to construct not destroy the lives of soldiers.

Over 800 soldiers return from Iraq with severe war wounds.

War can take lives but it can also test the lives of others.

Those who do come back wounded severely now have a chance to live normal lives.

Due to artificial legs soldiers can now walk with a regular pace in life.

Many soldiers end up at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

It is a very well established facility and is known world wide.

Patients stay in a mid-class apartment with a small living room, bed room, kitchen, and laundry.

Walter Reed Army Medical Center has had patients ready in as less as seven months.

Patients are told:1. One day at a time.2. Time takes time.3. Sometimes reach back and help those

who aren’t as far along as you are.

Wounded get personal care takers affectionately nicknamed “occupational terrorist”.

They meet once a week to go through rehab and get them used to the artificial leg.

Amputees usually have there lower extremities swollen.

The trainer massages the lower limb to push the fluids that have collected down there up and out.

Now the artificial leg can be put on.

After massaging the amputated limb to push up the fluids the limb is wrapped and continuously massaged.

The patient continues to bend the knee to keep it flexible.

Then the leg is placed on making sure nothing gets in-between the wound and leg socket.

The artificial leg has gotten so complex and to even describe the most recent leg and its part would consume the whole PowerPoint. To see a recent U.S. patent and see the leg in more detail click the link below.http://www.google.com/patents?hl=en&lr=&vid=USPAT5013325&id=IwghAAAAEBAJ&oi=fnd&dq=artificial+leg

More advanced artificial legs contain sensors located on the artificial knee and on the insole of the other leg.

They relay information on high speed from 200 to 1,300 times per second.

Gyroscopes on the knee and the ankle tell about the angle or tilt of the limb.

All this information goes to a microchip which can tell the leg weather it is going uphill or on a level surface.

The new leg costs roughly $110,000. Young amputees experience a fifteen to

twenty percent more efficiency with this leg.Older amputees, sixty-five or older, gain thirty

to forty percent more efficiency with the Power Knee.

To see a video on new artificial legs click below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSXtDSvl_2g

Used to be soldiers would be fifty-fifty on weather they would want to die with honor or live without a limb. Now a days new technology that has made things easier and looks more natural have tilted the decision. Now loosing a limb is still not good but also not so hopeless.

Johnson, M. (April 10, 2007). Veteran's new artificial leg has artificial intelligence. Journal Sentinel, 1-2.  

Vecsey, G. (2008, January 10). Admirable Spirit, but Rules are Rules. New York Times, pp. 1-4.

Sabbagh, L. (2004, December). Learning to Live--and Walk--After Iraq. Popular Mechanics, pp. 1-5.

Rennerfelt, G. (1991). Artificial U.S. Classification 623/38; 623/27. (262nd ed.). (Primary Examiner Willse). Patent number: 5013325.

Beech, M. (2008, February 4). Veteran Presence. Sports Illustrated, 108, 4., p. 20.