Otto Bock HealthCare, a company that started out providing devices for German World War I veterans in 1919, has developed a prosthetic knee system that is an upgrade to its already popular C-Leg. According to an Armed Forces Press Service release "the prosthesis is for above-the-knee amputees and uses a microprocessor to control the knee's hydraulic functions and anticipate the wearer's actions and make changes in real time."
The new system has more sensors, a faster hard drive, and more memory. Engineers are also looking to improve battery life to 50 hours per charge. The release states the leg will "improve transitions between movements like level-ground walking, climbing stairs, and running."
Barring any technical problems, the new prosthesis should be available to servicemembers in 2009.
-- Ward
July 19, 2007 07:10 AM | Medic! | Discuss
The war is providing some benefits. More money for delveloping prosthetics, more money for advanced weapons systems, the need to balance the budget, and more and more people are coming to relize that we need more power sources.
Although power deserves its own blog.
