BAL052217

He worked for several years at the University of Iowa Hospitals
and Clinics — the same place he was taken after the accident
and where the head surgeon commented that his was the most
complex case he had ever seen. He underwent numerous surgeries
to repair internal damage
and spent eight months in
the hospital’s burn unit.
“It’s very hard to live in
the ‘now,’ but when you’re
in the hospital, you can’t go
anywhere and you’re forced
to look at who you are on
the inside,” Mr. Rezin said.
He had planned to pursue a career
in medicine, but changed course to
focus on his love of nature and, in turn, photography.
Mr. Rezin’s works – he specializes in landscape photography –
can be found through the Iowa Artisans Gallery in Iowa City.
Occasionally, he uses the Bebionic hand for his photo work,
which also includes real estate photography for FSBO Homes
and one-on-one instruction. Mr. Rezin, who is right-handed,
taught himself to use the camera with one hand, even before he
was fitted for his left hand.
Advances in prosthetics
Prosthetic limbs have made extraordinary strides in recent years
in complexity and function, partly in response to injuries and amputations
suffered by military personnel in Middle East conflicts.
After his accident, Mr. Rezin was fitted with a hook, which he
still uses, particularly when he is lifting weights or performing
other tasks where he finds it more practical.
For a time, he used a prosthetic hand that could only open
and close and caused some awkward moments, including one
incident when it became caught on a grocery cart and rolled
away in the store.
“It actually sat in the closet most of the time,” Mr. Rezin said.
“It wasn’t as useful as the hook.”
He was fitted with the Bebionic hand at Advanced Arm Dynamics
in Waterloo nearly five years ago, taking just an hour or
so to learn how to operate it.
The battery-operated device attaches just above his elbow and
uses neurofeedback to move. Flexing his muscles one way, for
example, can allow Mr. Rezin to point his finger.
He practiced picking up small objects, such as Lego pieces
and CDs, with powerful microprocessors continuously monitoring
the position of each finger.
An “auto grip” sensor works to automatically grip tighter
when an item, such as a glass, is slipping and adjusts the grip
to secure it.
It also can be customized for golfing, fishing and other tasks.
Prosthetics such as the Bebionic don’t come cheap, costing
between $80,000 - $120,000.
‘Iron Man’
Mr. Rezin said besides the high-tech functions, the hand offers
hard-to-quantify benefits.
He took a trip last year to Nepal, where children and adults
alike were intrigued by the technology.
Children often see it as an “Iron Man” hand from the movies
and video games, and even approach him for autographs.
“With this, you kind of look more like a super hero,” Mr. Rezin
said. “You’re more approachable.”
Wearing the hook, he is more apt to be taunted, he said, attributing
the response to stereotypes of hook-wearers as pirates
and killers.
“The biggest advantage is other people’s perceptions,” Mr.
Rezin said of the Bebionic hand. “It gives me a little more confidence;
a positive feedback.” CBJ
The Bebionic hand is a battery-operated
device that has individual monitors in
each finger. It attaches just above the
elbow and uses neurofeedback to move.
“The biggest advantage is other
people’s perceptions. It gives me a little
more confidence; a positive feedback.”
- RYAN REZIN
CBJ BALANCE - SUMMER 2017 13