Becoming
Bionic
Deep into a six-hour
operation, Kubiak
(center) works with
plastic surgeon Theo-
dore Kung to pinpoint
the spots for implant-
ing electrode wires in
Oldham’s arm. Each
group experimenting
with touch restoration
uses a different tech-
nique; the University
of Michigan team
begins by wrapping
nerve endings with
small pieces of muscle.
(This also reduces
amputees’ phantom
limb pain, Cederna
has found.) The nerve
endings grow into
the muscle, and wires
are implanted into
the wrapped bundles,
so stimulation will fire
muscle and nerves.