Inventors Eye October 2013. Volume four, issue five.0  The
USPTO's bimonthly publication for the independent inventor
community  Old patent drawings of prosthetics lying on table.
Tracking Innovation: Prosthetics  With rapid advances in
technology for prosthetics in recent years, the field offers a
good study in how patents help spur innovation. Prosthetic limbs
available on the market today incorporate developments found in
multiple fields, from biomechanical and precision engineering to
rapid prototyping and electronic microprocessors. The synthesis
of new technologies and scientific principles has led to devices
that offer better mobility and comfort for users.  The origins
of prosthetics predate history, but Ancient Greek and Roman
records indicate that early artificial limbs were fashioned from
bronze, iron, or wood. Trends in early prosthetics focused on
either cosmetic appearance or functionality, but rarely both.
These designs sought to appear lifelike, often carved from wood
or leather and painted i