VOA标准英语2011--Bionic Arm Can Move, Feel

Bionic Arm Can Move, Feel

Scientists are developing an entirely¹ new type of prosthetic arm and hand that allows a patient to regain² not only movement, but also the sense of touch.
American soldiers who have lost limbs in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq often end up at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C., for rehabilitation³ and to get fitted with prosthetics. Dr. Todd Kuiken, of the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, works with these patients who provide him with feedback on a bionic arm he developed. Kuiken's work has focused on creating an artificial arm which can respond to the wearer's mind.
"What we do is use the nerves that are still left. Although the arm is lost," he says.
Nerves from the amputated arm are attached to the remaining muscle, either in the chest or in the bicep. Nerves that control flexing⁴ the hand or closing it are attached in different locations.
Electrodes placed on the muscles act as antennas⁵ and when the brain sends an electrical nerve impulse to these antennas, the electrode activates⁷ the prosthetic arm or hand to move accordingly.
Glen Lehman lost his right arm in Iraq. With his new limb, he can carry a tray or open a refrigerator door, almost without thinking.
"It gives you the freedom of mobility⁸ back. Trying to do some things with one hand is kind of difficult," he says. "If you can imagine opening a jar of peanut butter or maybe some jelly or spreading it on toast, something as simple as making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. It's very hard to scoop⁹ something out and spread it with one hand."
When the brain sends an electrical nerve impulse to electrodes placed on the muscles, the electrodes activate⁶ the prosthetic arm or hand to move accordingly.
Patients can even have nerves from their hands and finger tips transferred to muscles in their biceps. This gives them the sensation of touch.
"If you touch that newly re-innervated skin, the patient feels as if you're touching¹⁰ their missing hand," says Kuiken. "They can feel light touch down to one gram of force. They can feel hot and cold, normal thermal¹¹ thresholds, but they feel it in their missing hand."
According to Kuiken, prosthetics technology is at the point where we're likely to see a growing number of advanced artificial limbs that will help amputees lead normal lives.

1 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

2 regain   

vt.重新获得，收复，恢复

参考例句：

• He is making a bid to regain his World No.1 ranking.他正为重登世界排名第一位而努力。
• The government is desperate to regain credibility with the public.政府急于重新获取公众的信任。

3 rehabilitation   

n.康复，悔过自新，修复，复兴，复职，复位

参考例句：

• He's booked himself into a rehabilitation clinic.他自己联系了一家康复诊所。
• No one can really make me rehabilitation of injuries.已经没有人可以真正令我的伤康复了。

4 flexing   

n.挠曲，可挠性v.屈曲( flex的现在分词 )；弯曲；（为准备大干而）显示实力；摩拳擦掌

参考例句：

• Flexing particular muscles allows snakes to move in several ways. 可弯曲的特殊的肌肉使蛇可以用几种方式移动。 来自电影对白
• China has become an economic superpower and is flexing its muscles. 中国已经成为了一个经济巨人而且在展示他的肌肉。 来自互联网

5 antennas   

[生] 触角，触须（antenna的复数形式）

参考例句：

• Marconi tied several antennas to kites. 马可尼在风筝上系了几根天线。 来自超越目标英语 第3册
• Radio astronomy today is armed with the largest antennas in the world. 射电天文学拥有世界上最大的天线。

6 activate   

vt.使活动起来，使开始起作用

参考例句：

• We must activate the youth to study.我们要激励青年去学习。
• These push buttons can activate the elevator.这些按钮能启动电梯。

7 activates   

使活动，起动，触发( activate的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Activates the window and displays it in its current size and position. 激活窗口，保持当前的大小及位置不变。
• Pulling out the alarm switch activates alarm and pushing it deactivates it. 闹钟的开和关是通过拔出和按入闹铃开关实现的。

8 mobility   

n.可动性，变动性，情感不定

参考例句：

• The difference in regional house prices acts as an obstacle to mobility of labour.不同地区房价的差异阻碍了劳动力的流动。
• Mobility is very important in guerrilla warfare.机动性在游击战中至关重要。

9 scoop   

n.铲子，舀取，独家新闻；v.汲取，舀取，抢先登出

参考例句：

• In the morning he must get his boy to scoop it out.早上一定得叫佣人把它剜出来。
• Uh,one scoop of coffee and one scoop of chocolate for me.我要一勺咖啡的和一勺巧克力的。

10 touching   

adj.动人的，使人感伤的

参考例句：

• It was a touching sight.这是一幅动人的景象。
• His letter was touching.他的信很感人。

11 thermal   

adj.热的，由热造成的；保暖的

参考例句：

• They will build another thermal power station.他们要另外建一座热能发电站。
• Volcanic activity has created thermal springs and boiling mud pools.火山活动产生了温泉和沸腾的泥浆池。