What is the Difference Between Bionic and Prosthetic

The key difference between bionic and prosthetic is that bionic limbs are artificial limbs that work using signals from an individual’s muscles to move seamlessly, while prosthetic limbs are artificial limbs that require an individual’s body power to move.

Bionic and prosthetic are two artificial technologies that help muscle movement in case of an amputated or defective limb. They are used to replace a body part that may have been lost due to trauma, disease, accident, or congenital defect. Artificial limbs are essential to improve the quality of living without limbs. Artificial limbs combine biomechanics and computational modelling to develop integrated, non-invasive, and wearable devices. Bionics and prosthetics help to carry out simple and complex daily tasks using high-tech devices and, therefore, restore the independence of an individual. They also have the ability to connect the mind with artificial limbs.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Bionic  
3. What is Prosthetic
4. Similarities – Bionic and Prosthetic
5. Bionic vs Prosthetic in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Bionic vs Prosthetic

What is Bionic?

Bionic limbs are artificial limbs that work using signals from an individual’s muscles. These bionic limbs rely on electrical signals from the brain and nerves to create proper movements. They power electrically or mechanically or using both options together. Bionic limbs detect signals from the user’s muscles, so the sensors detect muscle movements. Such limbs consist of in-built technology to detect muscle signals. Most bionic limbs require sensors and usually implant them into remaining muscles. Such limbs are more advanced and allow users to control the movements of the limb using their minds. Another type of bionic limbs uses the theory plug and play. This is where the limb is put on and taken off easily and is used only when it is required. Bionic limbs do not require surgery, but they are custom-made according to the specifications of the user’s muscles.

There are various types of bionic limbs, and a few bionic limb options are iLimb and iLimb digits, symbionic leg, and BiOM foot. iLimb and iLimb digits are multi-articulating prosthetic hands and digits, and they are manually motorized to rotate the thumb. They are lightweight and user-friendly. Symbionic leg is a bionic leg that uses a microprocessor foot for seamless movement. These are suitable for individuals with knee amputations, allowing them to walk and run. BiOM foot is an advanced technology for seamless walking and foot movements. It mimics tendons and muscles for natural human movement.

What is Prosthetic?

A prosthetic limb is an artificial limb that replaces a body part that is lost. Such limbs restore the normal functions of the missing limb. Prosthetic limbs do not actively move with technology but require the user to reply on their body to move the limb. These limbs are usually designed according to the individual’s appearance and functional needs.

There are two types of limb prosthesis: include upper and lower extremity prosthesis. Upper extremity prosthesis is used at various levels of amputations in shoulder, elbow, wrist, full hand, partial hand, or fingers. Upper limb prosthesis has mainly three types: passive devices, body-powered devices, and externally powered (myoelectric devices). Passive devices are static. Therefore, they have no movable parts, but they are adjustable according to specific activities. It is mainly for cosmetic purposes for leisure or vocational activities. Body-powered devices work by attachment of a harness and cable around the opposite limb of the damaged limb. Externally powered or myoelectric devices work by sensing through electrodes attached to muscles.

On the other hand, lower extremity prosthesis provides replacements at various levels of amputations such as hip disarticulation, transfemoral prosthesis, knee disarticulation, transtibial prosthesis, foot, partial foot, or toe. The two main types of lower extremity prosthesis are trans-tibial and trans-femoral. The trans-tibial prosthesis is the replacement of a missing part of the limb below the knee by an artificial limb. The trans-femoral prosthesis is the replacement of a missing part of the limb above the knee by an artificial limb.

What are the Similarities Between Bionic and Prosthetic?

• Bionic and prosthetic use artificial body parts.
• Both aid in muscle movement.
• They have the risks of muscle pain and irritations and sometimes cause infections if not fixed properly.

What is the Difference Between Bionic and Prosthetic?

Bionic limbs are artificial limbs that work using signals from an individual’s muscles to move seamlessly, while prosthetic limbs are artificial limbs that require an individual’s body power to move. Thus, this is the key difference between bionic and prosthetic. To be specific, the bionic limbs are artificial limbs that rely on electrical signals from the brain and nerves to create proper movements. Meanwhile, prosthetic limbs are traditional and require the complete body power of an individual to make movements. Moreover, bionic limbs mainly improve sensation while prosthetic limbs improve mobility.

The below infographic presents the differences between bionic and prosthetic in tabular form for side by side comparison.

Summary – Bionic vs Prosthetic

Bionic and prosthetic are two artificial technologies that help in muscle movement in case of an amputated or defective limb. Bionic limbs are artificial limbs that work using signals from an individual’s muscles to move seamlessly. Prosthetic limbs require an individual’s body power to move. Bionic limbs rely on electrical signals from the brain and nerves to create proper movements. A prosthetic limb is an artificial limb that replaces a missing body part. Such limbs restore the normal functions of the missing limb. However, prosthetic limbs do not actively move with technology and require the user to reply on their body to move the limb. So, this summarizes the difference between bionic and prosthetic.

Reference:

1. Kingsley, Jim. “BIONIC Limbs & Prosthetic Technology in Chicago.” Scheck & Siress, Scheck and Siress, 19 Jan. 2022.
2. “What Are Prosthetics? and What Makes Them Different than Bionics?” APC Prosthetics, 17 Sept. 2021.

Image Courtesy:

1. “WWI prosthetic limbs (26662141221)” By Steve Jurvetson (CC BY 2.0) via Flickr
2. “The Bionic Man — First Demo” By Thomas Quine – WWI prosthetic limbs (CC BY 2.0) via Commons Wikimedia