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Dynastream gives amputees a foot up |
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September 1, 2006
August 30, 2006 (Cochrane) Cochrane Times Kristi Patton - Times Reporter
Lower-limb amputees will be able to move around a lot more efficiently thanks in part to Cochrane\'s own Dynastream Innovations, Inc..
Dynastream teamed up with Ossur, a bionic technology company, to develop a new prosthetic foot technology incorporating sensors from the Cochrane based company.
\"It will particularly improve the quality of life of younger and more active amputees who have higher performance expectations,\" said Anne Gildenhuys, one of Dynastream\'s product managers.
According to Dynastream IP manager Ken Fyfe, and Gildenhuys, the sensors the company developed for the Proprio Foot detects terrain when walking up and down a hill or stairs and adjusts the ankle to the appropriate angles.
The sensors allow the amputee to adjust the foot when putting on clothes and to make it look natural when in a relaxed position with a push of a button.
\"Most prosthetics don\'t automatically adjust for heel height in shoes and that has been difficult especially for women in the past. The automatic heel height adjustment is expected to be a really popular feature with active women. It makes a substantial difference,\" said Gildenhuys.
The Dynastream sensors used in the Proprio Foot are advancements of the accelerometer technology they launched into the sporting marketplace six years ago with added tweaks adjusting the alignment more specifically for the ankle.
Ossur came up with the idea for the foot and then approached Dynastream to help them build custom sensors in just over a year.
The Proprio Foot is being officially launched at a trade show in September at the American Orthodic and Prosthetic Association\'s (AOPA) annual national assembly in Florida.
According to Ossur, when a limb is lost so are some of the body\'s natural mechanoreceptors, the cells that can sense a range of mechanical stimuli and communicate that information to the central nervous system.
The Dynastream accelerometers sample ankle motion, identifying specific ankle motion events such as heel strike, to enable a timely response to different terrain and activity.
Foot motion in each stride is analyzed to detect and identify when a user is walking on a flat or sloped surface and up or down stairs. The foot also detects whether an amputee is in a seated or stationary position.
The foot is already being put to use by the US Department of Defense and Veterans Association to benefit servicemen from the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts as well as veterans of past wars.
\"This product will be of great benefit to young soldiers coming home and having these features will greatly enhance their quality of life,\" said Annette McLeod, Dynastream marketing manager.
The Proprio Foot, with the help of Dynastream\'s real-time sensor technology, thinks and acts for the amputee allowing them to walk safely and with a proper gait.
For Dynastream, the partnered up project opens doors for the company in the medical technology market.
\"It gives our company and our technology credibility in new markets where we see many opportunities especially in the emerging market of health and wellness and particularly for use by the aging population,\" said McLeod.
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