Artificial arm, Roehampton, England, 1964
This is a gas-powered upper limb prosthesis. It was made for a 12 year-old boy who lost both arms above the elbow aged eight. Each prosthesis has valves mounted on the leather sockets. These allow control of the wrist rotation units by the limb stumps. Split-hooks are attached to both hands. These movements are powered by a CO2 gas cylinder. This is carried on the trouser belt in a leather holster. Queen Mary's Hospital in Roehampton, Surrey is part of the NHS Trust who donated this prosthesis. The hospital was established as a specialist centre for fitting prosthetic limbs during the First World War. It is still an important centre for limb manufacture and fitting.
Object number:
1999-576
Related Themes and Topics
Glossary:
Glossary: prostheses
Artificial body parts, or materials inserted into tissue for functional, cosmetic, or therapeutic effect. Prostheses can be functional (artificial arms and legs), or cosmetic (artificial eye).
Glossary: artificial arm
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