Prosthetic Fin Helps Dolphin Swim, Jump

A female bottlenose dolphin named Fuji can now swim and jump again like other dolphins--thanks to an artificial fin.

Fuji had lost 75 percent of her flukes due to an unknown disease. In 2002 symptoms of the disease surfaced--loss of appetite and discoloration and necrosis in the distal part of her flukes. As the disease was treated, the diseased parts of her flukes were excised by using an electronic surgical knife. Fuji recovered completely, but was unable to swim and jump normally.

Fuji is estimated to be about 36 years old, and is the mother of Ryu, a male dolphin who died in 2005 at age 27, the oldest bottlenose dolphin born in captivity.

She also is the mother of Konny, a female, age 15, and Chao, a male, age nine.

Would it be possible to make the world's first artificial fin? And would it enable Fuji to recover normal mobility? The Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, Fuji's home since she was captured in November 1976, decided to embark on an experimental study in cooperation with the Bridgestone Co., Japan's largest tire maker. In 2003 the project got under way. The goal was threefold, according to the Churaumi Aquarium:

Will the artificial fin function as part of flukes? Can Fuji fully recover her normal swimming behavior with the artificial fin? Can Fuji fully recover her social interaction with other dolphins with the artificial fin? Thus, Fuji faced many of the same issues that human amputees do.

"We started this project not only from compassion for Fuji, but also for a scientific experiment," the aquarium said, noting that Fuji had no difficulty living in the aquarium.

The first attempt at constructing a usable artificial fin was unsuccessful. The attachment caused scratches on her natural flukes and the researchers also decided that they needed a more accurate mold of Fuji's tail. Kazuhiko Yakushiji, a noted acrylic sculptor, joined the project.

In March 2004, a second design incorporating an attachment by a cowling made of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic was successful. Fuji could swim speedily and jump into the air.

And just like humans, Fuji needed to undergo rehabilitation training. She needed to become accustomed to the attachment and to being physically handled for donning and doffing the fin and medical examinations.

When Fuji became comfortable with the attachment, her trainers helped her to learn to swim and jump with the fin. "Fuji became able to jump strongly and touch the target with the cowling model," the aquarium reports. "Now she can also do high jumps. We are planning to start training for measuring her swimming speed."

Although several versions of the artificial fin have been developed, "the newest version is not yet perfect," according to the aquarium. "We are still trying out new ideas. At the same time, the research in artificial fins might give us an insight into the function and mechanism of the natural dolphin tail flukes."

The aquarium welcomes others to become involved. "In order to achieve our goals, we would like to get more people involved and ask for diverse opinions." Visitors are invited to see Fuji at the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium's Lagoon Pool.

For more details about development of Fuji's artificial fin and her rehabilitation training, visit www.kaiyouhaku.com/en/news/05041801_01_report.html

The Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium can be contacted via e-mail: welcome@kaiyouhaku.or.jp

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