Part biology. Part artificial. All cat.
I don’t think I would have believed it if I hadn’t seen it. A veterinarian in Jersey has managed to successfully graft two prosthetic limbs onto a cat that lost both its back paws in a combine thresher. Named Oscar, the 2 year old cat was walking freely only a few hours after receiving its new limbs! The metal pins that attach to the prostheses were surgically embedded in the cat’s residual legs and were specially designed to allow both skin and bone to grow into them. This should prevent infection and long term complications associated with exposed metal pins in living tissues. We have two amazing videos for you, both from the BBC. The first shows Oscar’s first steps after receiving his new limbs, and the second showing him weeks later enjoying a more advanced version of the devices in his home. You’ve got to see this.
Noel Fitzpatrick, the veterinarian who performed Oscar’s surgery, had previous success in attaching prostheses to animals. In fact, he’s the star of a new upcoming BBC pilot for a series called “The Bionic Vet.” The prosthetic limbs were developed in association with researchers at the University College London and have implications for human-used devices. The metal pins embedded in Oscar’s legs are called intraosseous transcutaneous amputation prosthetics (Itaps) and are specially shaped (like umbrellas) to allow tissue to grow onto and into them. This shields them against infection. Similar techniques are already under testing for humans and may allow for sturdier and safer human prostheses. For now, it’s unlikely that Oscar’s style of Itaps will be used for other cats as they are expensive: £2000 (~$3000) without the cost of surgery). That means that, for a while, Oscar is likely to be one of kind. Lucky cat.
[image credit: Reuters]
[video credit: BBC News]
[source: BBC News, Reuters]
Comments
wow… Amazing..
Wow! That’s amazing! Such a horrible tragedy, but Oscar is up and about like nothing is different..If we could only find a way to tap into that same sense of recovery for people after losing limbs. @AdrianSlew
Wow! That’s amazing! Such a horrible tragedy, but Oscar is up and about like nothing is different..If we could only find a way to tap into that same sense of recovery for people after losing limbs. @AdrianSlew
I definitely got choked up watching this. Thank god there are people out there like this man.
Thank Science and the people who make it possible.
I definitely got choked up watching this. Thank god there are people out there like this man.
Thank Science and the people who make it possible.
that made me cry, so wonderful.
i have to add…why is there a price for something like this at all. cost of materials, virtually nil. cost of labor…well, He said it himself “i cant tell you how good it feels to keep him alive.” dont need to pay someone to do that. Give this man food, shelter and tools to do great things and they will be done! No need to dangle his own survival in from of him(the need to make money) for him to do great things!
I TOTALLY AGREE! HOW CAN YOU PUT A PRICE ON LIFE…ANIMAL OR HUMAN? YOU GO OSCAR, WE ALL LOVE YOU!!
that made me cry, so wonderful.
i have to add…why is there a price for something like this at all. cost of materials, virtually nil. cost of labor…well, He said it himself “i cant tell you how good it feels to keep him alive.” dont need to pay someone to do that. Give this man food, shelter and tools to do great things and they will be done! No need to dangle his own survival in from of him(the need to make money) for him to do great things!
I TOTALLY AGREE! HOW CAN YOU PUT A PRICE ON LIFE…ANIMAL OR HUMAN? YOU GO OSCAR, WE ALL LOVE YOU!!
I just hope that the price will get down eventually and that they will not stop developing these prosthetics.
I just hope that the price will get down eventually and that they will not stop developing these prosthetics.
I love you, Oscar. You are a great cat.
Thanks to the doctors that gave you a second change. Hope you live a long and happy live.
I love you, Oscar. You are a great cat.
Thanks to the doctors that gave you a second change. Hope you live a long and happy live.
Just one word. Wow.
Just one word. Wow.
Does he lick them? I.e. does he accept them as his own?
Does he lick them? I.e. does he accept them as his own?