Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Iraq vet works to improve prosthetic arms



DURHAM - Jonathan Kuniholm (right) wears his hair military-crop short, so when people look quizzically at his prosthetic arm with the shiny metal hook, a whole conversation can transpire in a word.

"People just say, 'Iraq?' " the retired Marine Corps captain explains.

A simple nod can speak volumes.

The words flow for Kuniholm when he talks about disabled veterans and an engineering project he's involved with that could help other amputees.

He is one of 300 engineers worldwide working to modernize prosthetic arms for a U.S. Defense Department program. And he has started a nonprofit group to encourage the sharing of prosthetic hardware designs and research so new products can be developed at lower cost.