Prosthetics, as used in both films and medical procedures are inevitable. Recently, a group of surgeons in the University of California revolutionizes that fad from ordinary cosmetic process into what they coined as "robotic face". Using artificial polymer muscles, it is designed to reanimate facial features of a human face that underwent a major paralysis. As far as Craig Senders and Travis Tollefson writes in their recent patent application, "The face is an area where natural-appearing active prosthetics would be particularly welcome," which as recent reports said was tested successfully on cadavers.
It is also written there that electroactive polymer (EAP) actuators power implants is been attached to the tissues of the patient's face. When it is energized, it provides body functions to the patient who suffered paralysis or paresis. This method can benefit persons who suffered spinal injuries, nervous disorders and other of this kind.
For instance, a person lost control of his eyelids which can lead him into blindness and can also lower his self-esteem. It can be cured using this method if a polymer muscle anchored to the skull and pull the cord that connect to both of eyes' upper and lower eyelids. (see diagram to clearly see the picture) Once the patient tries to close his eyes, it will trigger an electrical activity in the muscles which will make the eyelids close. Then the polymer muscles read this activity and contracts the muscle making the eyelids to close fully.
If this patent invention comes to full circle, it can also use to replace finger and hand functions, assist breathing through artificial diaphragm and even reanimate other facial features.
