Just my typical curiousity. I’m old, my shoulders hurt, someday I may need to upgrade. This got me to thinking, is there more than one option? Customization? Bonus Features?
Case in point. I had my gallbladder removed lacroscopically. As part of that, the connecting duct has two clamps put on it to pinch it closed, then the duct is severed with the gallbladder and one clamp getting removed. The other one is still with me. There are two different kinds of clamps, one plastic and the other titanium. I got the latter. (I checked to be sure. which weirded out the doctor.)
So If I did need artificial joints installed, could I get ceramic sockets instead of nylon? (just spitballing possibilities, don’t know if these are a real thang) Gold plating? Add a temp sensor xBT style? Etc. Etc. Etc.
I realize that medical implants are super reviewed / regulated, but even when getting replacement lenses for cataracts there are SOME option. How far does it go. If you had the right doctor, how far could it be taken?
First: Nylon vs Ceramic, etc. You do NOT want the material of the cap to be harder than the material it rubs up against in the joint or it with just chew it up like a very slow dremel.
I have 8 inches of titanium, 4 screws, and 220 staples at this point.
I’ve had 7 surgeries on different parts of my right arm, 2 on my left, my gall bladder was removed, and about 90% of my stomach came out due to tumors, and a spinal fusion.
The answer to “can I change or modify this” has been, if you can afford to build it, and pay for the entire procedure, you can probably get a surgeon to implant it. But if its under insurance, and under malpractice, then not no but hell no.
After all that, where I drew the line was when they wanted to put a spinal cord stimulator in place to block residual pain from a failed surgery, they were telling me all about how you can change settings on it with your phone or tablet from several feet away.
Now I teach infosec, and part of my research focus is hacking medical implants (external diabetic pumps are just an absolute nightmare), so after I was done laughing at the doctor we contacted the manufacturer to not put the stock receiver in and to use something with a range of inches. And they wouldn’t touch it either. This was very important to me since a fail state on that stimulator can actually burn your spinal cord.
So technically “yes”, but most likely not in the states. I hope that helps!
[Multiple people that I know personally and well] have these and they scare the living hell out of me.
Same thing with many pacemakers, though I don’t know anyone with one.
I just hope that by the time I need something like these, there might be more options, foss is preferred, but I can understand why that is unlikely to become a reality.
which weirded out the doctor.)