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FDA Fast Tracks Brain-Controlled Prosthetic Arm

The FDA and DARPA have created a faster approval process for breakthrough medical technology. First up: a high-tech prosthetic arm.

Ann Marie Gardner
By Ann Marie GardnerFeb 12, 2011
Ann Marie Gardner
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The Los Angeles Times reports incredible news for veterans and those with prosthetic limbs. A high-tech new prosthetic arm is going get fast tracked through the Food and Drug Administration's approval process.

The system, using a brain-implanted microchip, is meant to provide 'near-natural' functioning of the arm, hand and fingers. The prosthesis will be evaluated in a new FDA program that gives priority review to breakthrough medical devices.

The arm system, developed by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, uses a microchip implanted in the brain to record and decode signals to neurons that control muscles linked to the prosthesis.

The FDA and DARPA have a briefing scheduled for later today to announce this new medical device "Innovation Pathway." You can see a few more pictures of the prosthetic arm on the FDA's Flickr page.

Photo courtesy of the FDA

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