An electronic knee-joint system from a UK company has received an award from charity The Limbless Association.
The E-MAG Active implant from Otto Bock Healthcare has received the Association’s 2009 award for ‘Prosthetic or Orthotic Product Innovation’.
The newly-launched orthosis is the first electronically-controlled knee-joint system. It offers greater mobility, reliability and safety than conventional orthoses.
E-MAG Active works independently of the ankle joint or sole of the foot. This means that users with loss of ankle functionality, caused by poliomyelitis or stroke, can still achieve a natural, smooth walking gait.
The lightweight knee-joint opens and closes automatically while walking, locking in the stance phase and unlocking in the swing phase. An intelligent sensor system measures the position of the leg and controls the orthotic joint. E-MAG Active gives acoustic or vibration feedback to alert the user as to the joint’s status.
Craig Stevens, Product Manager at Otto Bock Healthcare, said: “E-MAG Active has ushered in a new era in orthotics. The secure stance and free swing phases give users a more natural walking pattern. The feedback system eliminates a host of secondary problems related to injury caused as a result of a fall. Otto Bock is extremely pleased with this award, as it recognises significant innovation in orthotics.”
E-MAG Active is suitable for a body weight of up to 85kg. The energy-efficient batteries will deliver up to 10,000 steps per day with daily recharging.
Based in Egham, Surrey, Otto Bock Healthcare (part of the German-based Otto Bock Group) is a supplier of devices for people with limited mobility.
E-MAG Active