DEVICE TO RESTORE SENSE OF FEEL FOR LOWER LIMB AMPUTEES

THE SABOLICH PROSTHETIC AND RESEARCH CENTER HAS DEVELOPED AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE THAT PROVIDES A SENSE OF FEEL FOR LOWER LIMB AMPUTEES. THE DEVICE HAS BEEN FIELD TESTED AND OBSERVATIONAL EVIDENCE AND PATIENT REPORTS INDICATE THAT IT HELPS AMPUTEES ACHIEVE BETER BALANCE AND MORE NORMAL GAIT. THE GOAL IN PHASE I IS TO CONDUCT MORE ABJECTIVE PILOT TESTS OF THE DEVICE. TWENTY-FOUR SUBJECTS WILL BE TESTED WITH AND WITHOUT THE DEVICE ATTACHED TO THEIR PROSTHESIS. BALANCE AND GAIT WILL BE EVALUATED TO DETERMINE IF THE DEIVCE IMPROVES THESE FUNCTIONS. GAIT LAB STUDIES WILL PROVIDE QUANTIFIED MEASURES FOR BOTH BALANCE AND AMBULATION. THE DEVICE IS TECHNOLOGICALLY INNOVATIVE IN THAT IT DOES NOT REQUIRE CUMBERSOME EQUIPMENT OR SURGICAL IMPLANTATION AND BECAUSE PATIENTS QUICKLY ADAPT TO IT AS PART OF THEIR PROSTHETIC SYSTEM. WE HAVE APPLIED FOR PATENT RIGHTS. IT IS EXPECTED THE INCLUSION OF THE DEVICE WITH THE SABOLICH PROSTHESIS WILL ALLOW THE COMPANY TO PRODUCE PROSTHETICS THAT WILL APPEAL TO A LARGE SEGMENT OF THE USER MARKET.