---
title: "New Modular Prosthetic Limbs Make History"
description: "Les Baugh, who lost both arms in an electrical accident 40 years ago is able to operate two prosthetics mounted on his shoulders just by thinking about moving his arms"
date: "2014-12-18"
modified: "2015-08-13"
authors:
  - name: "Radu Serban"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/techie1986.md"
url: "https://futurism.com/new-modular-prosthetic-limbs-make-history"
categories:
  - "Health & Medicine"
  - "Prosthetics and Devices"
tags:
  - "medical"
---

# New Modular Prosthetic Limbs Make History

![](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/3322894013.jpg>)

- The Modular Prosthetic Limbs were invented at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL)
- Before the new prosthetics could be used, the patient had to undergo a surgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital known as targeted muscle reinnervation
- Thanks to the new Modular Prosthetic Limbs, the patient was able to control a combination of motions across both arms at the same time, which was a first for simultaneous bimanual control

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