Salvador Inden
CEO of Inden Industries
Image Source: http://simplelimb.com/leg-prosthetics/ubergizmo.com
Intent: To create a simple battlefield emergency prosthetic
Development Thread: If necessary
Manufacturer: Inden Industries
Model: Inden Emergency Prosthetic
Affiliation: Open market/Techno Union
Modularity: No
Production: Mass-produced
Material: Durasteel, cybernetics components
Description: The IEP was designed as a simple, telescopic prosthetic for use by battlefield medics. It is not designed to be a permanent, but as more of a “spare tire”; allowing a wounded soldier to walk (albeit with difficulty) to safety or a place where a more permanent prosthetic can be issued. It is designed for serious leg injuries, where the leg has either been blown off by an explosive or otherwise damaged to the point where amputation would be unquestionably necessary.
The IEP comes in a small package with five items: the leg itself, a packet of gel, a syringe, a tourniquet, and a very, very sharp vibroblade.
The medic (or whoever is using the IEP) first injects the patient with the syringe, giving the patient anesthetic. This serves a dual purpose: it knocks the patient out (since the upcoming process is extremely painful) and, in doing so, slows the patient’s heart rate (to prevent bleeding out).
The medic then takes the tourniquet and ties it off well above the wound, and using the vibroblade quickly but carefully cuts the victim’s leg evenly, just above the wound. This is vital to the process, because it removes any tissue that may have already begun to scar, helps prevent infection at the original wound site, and creates a nice flat surface for the prosthetic to attach to, and gives a fresh wound for the gel.
Next, the medic applies the gel to the wound. This bacta-based gel serves multiple purposes: firstly, it is an antiseptic, preventing infection at the new cut; secondly, it contains a powerful painkiller, so that the victim doesn’t immediately pass out again from pain upon waking; thirdly, it stops the bleeding getting past the tourniquet (allowing the tourniquet to be removed); and finally (and most importantly), it draws out the nerves from the wound for the cybernetic to connect to. Once the gel is on and has stopped the bleeding, the medic can remove the tourniquet. The process takes about five minutes; it is generally recommended the medic spend this time adjusting the telescopic prosthetic to the correct length, and to set it to the right or left side.
Finally, the medic attaches the leg itself. Three latches dig into the victim’s stump, while the top of the prosthetic itself connects to the nerves the gel exposed. This gives the subject enough control - and in most cases, enough stability and familiarity - to make his way to safety when he wakes.
The effects of the painkiller in the gel have the useful side effect of confusing the brain enough that it assumes any unfamiliarity with the limb is simply aftereffects of the drug, and compensates accordingly. The prosthetic must be attached within fifteen minutes of the gel's application, with the ideal time being between seven and ten minutes.
Again, this is NOT to be used as a permanent limb replacement. It is made so that seriously injured soldiers could get off the battlefield on their own, getting possibly life-saving support without sacrificing another soldier to carry him back. The anesthetic in the gel only lasts about two hours for the average soldier, at which point the pain returns and moving at all becomes excruciating (often hindering or stopping funtionality). In addition, the "scab" created by the gel deteriorates after about 3.5 hours; if the victim has not found or received aid by then, there is a definite possibility that blood will start flowing again and pooling in the top of the prosthetic. Even if he avoids bleeding out, the heat of the blood on the now raw nerve endings is enough to cause even the hardiest soldier to pass out. If this happens, the stump will likely be unusable, requiring an even higher amputation if a new, more permanent prosthetic is to be given - though if a soldier has reached this point, recovery in time to save him is unlikely.
Because of the chemical makeup of the gel, it is recommended that this only be used on human or near-human subjects. Effects on other species vary; some (like Twi’leks) have similar results to humans but with no nerve effects (neutralizing the most important aspect of the gel), while some (like Zeltrons) have a natural resistance to the painkiller, giving them excruciating pain when they wake from the anesthetic. Some species, most notably Bith, have a weak enough immune system for the antiseptic to be dangerous. For this reason, the gel (and by extension, the IEP) should only be used by humans or near-humans.
