Defense Technology International - October 2007 - (Page 56) LIMBS ROBOTIC corner, Army Spec. Michael Cameron exercises with a giant rubber band stretched around his good right leg and his artificial left one. He steps sideways, squats, stands and steps again, working the muscles in both limbs, trying to restore some of the strength and balance he lost during months of recuperation from a lower-leg amputation. Cameron’s ankle prosthesis is a Centaurus “vertical shock-absorber” model with springs that reduce the impact of running and jumping. “It’s heavier than other feet,” he says, “but I love it for the comfort.” Amputees at Walter Reed choose MIT Prof. Hugh Herr demonstrates between shock-absorbing ankles like iWalk at its unveiling in July. the Centaurus or traditional options that are lighter but less suitable for ath- tend to be heavier, so some patients stick letic activity. There’s also the newer, self- with the old-fashioned type. And there’s adjusting “Proprio” model, which is built still the problem of latency in even the newer smart limbs. in Iceland by Ossur. At Walter Reed, a bewildering combiThe standard knee—for those with above-the-knee amputations—is the nation of artificial ankles and knees is in C-Leg made by Otto Bock in Germany. evidence. And most amputees go home The C-Leg, like the Proprio ankle and with a grab bag of prostheses that they the Rheo knee, has sensors that read can mix and match according to their the gait and adjust tension in the joint needs for the day, hospital representative to provide the right stability. With knees, Don Vandrey says. Stewart, for instance, as with ankles, the computerized models has two prosthetic ankles (not counting WEBB CHAPELL/MIT the prototype iWalk he is slated to receive): a Centaurus and a newer “Renegade” that is lighter and has an adjustable shock absorber. In spite of the growing diversity in prosthetics, the trend is toward smarter designs in more coherent combinations. The objective at Walter Reed is to pair the C-Leg knee with the iWalk ankle to replace many other combinations. Looking further ahead, patients and prosthetics technicians at the hospital would like to see the same smarts and flexibility featured in new ankle and knee designs also applied to the last major piece of a prosthetic limb: the socket. At a workshop adjacent to the rehabilitation clinic at Walter Reed, Jared McClure crafts carbon-fiber sockets for amputees. He begins with a computer scan of the residual limb. This serves as a guide for a machine that shapes blocks of foam core. McClure takes the foam core “leg,” casts it in plaster and covers the plaster with a plastic sheath. The result is a mannequin-like limb, around which he shapes the permanent carbon-fiber socket that attaches to a C-Leg or other prosthesis. m m w si pr so th cr co a te th a qu ge ex sa ta w so fo as ti ca ti bo th Interservice / Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference NOVEMBER 26 - 29, 2007 • Orange County Convention Center • Orlando, Florida Maintaining the Edge Transforming the Force WHY YOU SHOULD BE AT I/ITSEC 2007! • • • • • 130 Technical Papers covering 6 educational tracks Over 500 Exhibitors showcasing current technologies in training Industry & Service Keynote Addressee's Multiple Special Events Over 17,000 Corporate, Academia & Government professionals from 46 countries ALSO • National/International Press Attendance • Key Government & Congressional Participants CONTACTS: Conference Information Barbara McDaniel 703-247-2569 bmcdaniel@ndia.org Exhibit/Sponsorship Information Debbie Dyson 703-247-9480 ddyson@ndia.org www.iitsec.org www.aviationweek.com/dti 56 DEFENSE TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL OCTOBER 2007 w � 3257031832 CMYK http://www.iitsec.org
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