Video: DARPA Delivers 'LUKE' Arm to Veterans

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's Revolutionizing Prosthetics program reached a milestone Dec. 22, when it delivered a few of its sophisticated bionic "LUKE" arms to the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for use by wounded veterans.

"We are delivering to Walter Reed the world's most advanced prosthetic arm system that has the same size, weight, shape and grip strength compared to an adult human arm," said Justin Sanchez, director of DARPA’s Biological Technologies Office. "It's a remarkable device."

Named after "Star Wars" hero Luke Skywalker, the arms are the only advanced prosthetic approved by the Food and Drug Administration and promise improved mobility and greater independence for those with upper-limb loss.

"Connecting the dots, all the way from the dirt, where a patient is injured and their life is saved, through a continuum of care that starts with acute care and eventually ends up with rehabilitative care, and then being able again to deliver that person back to a life that is meaningful to them is really at the end of the day what we all strive to do," said Col. Jeffrey Bailey, director for surgery at Walter Reed.

To learn more, check out the video below from DARPA: