FDA finally approves a new, high-tech type of prosthetic arm

After years of testing, the FDA today approved a new type of prosthetic arm that its makers claim will bring a whole new level of control to amputees. Known as the “Luke” arm or DEKA Arm System, Segway inventor Dean Kamen has been involved in its development and unlike existing prosthetics, it can understand multiple commands at once, giving its wearers “near-natural” control of the limb.

A prosthetic arm made by a company founded by Segway inventor Dean Kamen was approved for sale by U.S. regulators, who called it the first such device able to respond to multiple simultaneous commands from a wearer’s brain. Electrodes attached to the arm detect muscle contractions close to the prosthesis, and a computer translates them into movement, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said today in a statement. As many as 10 movements can be detected by the limb, which is the same weight and shape as a natural human arm. The company, closely held DEKA Research and Development Corp. (0007139D:US)of Manchester, New Hampshire, developed the arm with financing from the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and the U.S. Army Research Office, according to DEKA’s website.