Our Services
Prosthetic Components
SOCKET: (photo)
This is the component that is custom made for each individual and the part your residual limb fits into. Various designs available and your prosthetist will discuss these with you to tailor the most appropriate socket for you.
INTERFACE: (photo)
The interface is the part of the prosthesis that goes next to your skin; this may be made of various gels like silicone, foam or even something as simple as a prosthetic sock.
SUSPENSION SYSTEMS: (photo)
This is the mechanism used to hold the prosthesis onto your limb. It
may incorporate a gel liner with a locking pin, a suspension sleeve or it
can be held on by suction. These various types should be discussed with your prosthetist during the design stage to help make the prosthesis better
accommodate your lifestyle and limb type.
KNEES:
• Weight activated (photo)
• Single axis (photo)
• Polycentric (photo)
• Pneumatic
• Hydraulic
- Computer controlled knees:
From the development of the first artificial knee device long ago, walking with a trans-femoral prosthetic limb has either required a great deal of concentration or been extremely awkward. Either the wearer walked stiff-legged with the knee locked, or he/ she had to think, and often worry, about controlling the limb in swing phase...on a level surface at a constant speed. Changing cadence or ambulating on uneven terrain introduced a whole new degree of difficulty!
The introduction of the 3C100 C-Leg® (photo) microprocessor-controlled knee-shin system in 1999 initiated a revolution of sorts in trans-femoral ambulation. Essentially, the C-Leg’s on-board circuitry does the thinking and lets the above-knee amputee concentrate on other things while walking. The C-Leg functions through real-time gait analysis to control hydraulic swing- and stance phase resistance. Built-in sensors provide information to the microprocessor 50 times per second to determine the precise phase of gait. The microprocessor then makes instantaneous adjustments to knee function, using algorithms developed from studies of how thousands of people walk, fine-tuned for the wearer’s unique needs and characteristics.
Two studies have been undertaken to evaluate the C-Leg’s performance relative to different conventional hydraulic knees:
The first series of tests included two gait analysis trials, a kinetic test for stance-phase loading, and another kinetic test for swing-phase performance while walking 1000 meters on a treadmill at three different speeds. The most telling results showed the C-Leg clearly superior at higher speeds on the swing-phase treadmill test, in swing-phase behavior, and in reduction of residual limb forces. The second analysis sought to compare the physiological cost of ambulating in the C-Leg with that of another conventional single-axis hydraulic knee, the 3C1. Six experienced 3C1 wearers were involved in the study. After gaining experience in the C-Leg for several weeks, the subjects were evaluated at three walking speeds on a treadmill, first in the 3C1, then the C-Leg. All other aspects of the wearers' prostheses were as identical as could be provided.
Results show the C-Leg to be more energy-efficient with a significant reduction in oxygen consumption ranging from 7 percent at slow walking speed to 4 percent at the fast speed. Clearly, the C-Leg is a good option for vigorous, healthy amputees, but it is also applicable to many other trans-femoral amputees as well. Of course, not everyone is a candidate, but for those who are, an increase in ability of one functional level is certainly possible.
FEET:
• SACH (photo)
• Single Axis (photo)
• Multi-axis (photo)
• Dynamic Response (photo)
• Energy storage (photo)
• Running/sprinting (photo)
