MINNEAPOLIS, MN - Otto Bock HealthCare announces a new version of the C-Leg® microprocessor-controlled knee, adding improved swing phase control, enhanced stumble recovery, a higher weight limit of 300 lbs., and increased splash protection.
Otto Bock introduced the C-Leg® to the world in 1997, transforming above-knee prosthetic care around the globe. Since then the C-Leg has become the most clinically evaluated and studied prosthetic knee in history, with dozens of studies confirming the C-Leg’s position as the Standard of Care for transfemoral amputees. A very recent clinical study concluded that C-Leg demonstrated “increased efficacy in safety, energy efficiency and cost effectiveness when compared to other prosthetic knees.”1

“The new C-Leg joins Genium and C-Leg Compact in Otto Bock’s family of advanced prosthetic knees,” said Otto Bock U.S. HealthCare President/CEO Brad Ruhl. “We’re very proud to offer a complete spectrum of solutions for amputees that’s really unique to our industry. All our technology, all our research, is focused on getting closer and closer to natural walking for amputees.”

A key benefit of the new C-Leg is increased peace of mind for users. The optimized stumble recovery provides even greater resistance in case a user trips or stumbles so, for example, a toy left on the living room floor is a much-reduced threat for falling. Improved swing phase control means easier swing initiation, resulting in more natural response to a change in speed, especially handy on busy streets or crowded venues.

In addition, an extra activity mode has been added, as well as increased moisture protection with attached silicone caps covering the charging ports. And, thanks to an increase in the weight limit to 300 lbs., the benefits of C-Leg technology are now available to even more users.
The new C-Leg is part of Otto Bock’s ongoing commitment to advanced technologies for better patient outcomes. Since 1997, Otto Bock has continued research and development efforts for the C-Leg, regularly making incremental product improvements, as well as two previous major advances of the original microprocessor knee. The new 2011 version represents the third major update to the C-Leg.

Matt Wise, an early-adopter of the original C-Leg, commented that the 2011 version is “even smoother. The knee is forgiving and responsive, whether I am tired from a day camping in the woods with my kids or I’m hurrying down a ramp to get to my car after work – and my third set of stairs.”

The new C-Leg is ideal for anyone with high stability and reliability requirements in everyday life, providing a high degree of mobility and freedom. It offers outstanding stability when walking over uneven ground, walking slowly or quickly, negotiating slopes, and walking down stairs step-over-step.

Otto Bock also recently announced its latest advancement in prosthetic knee technology, the Genium™ Bionic Prosthetic System. This one-of-a-kind prosthetic knee is built on an entirely different technological platform from the C-Leg, utilizing sophisticated software to turn multiple environmental inputs into the most natural, intuitive motion available.

 June 14, 2011, Minneapolis, Minn. Today, Otto Bock HealthCare announces the launch of the Genium™ Bionic Prosthetic System. This one-of-a-kind prosthetic knee utilizes sophisticated software to turn multiple environmental inputs (a complex sensor system, including a gyroscope and an accelerometer) into the most natural, intuitive motion available.

The result of extensive research and development, the Genium is built on an entirely new prosthetic technology platform. This groundbreaking technology redefines quality of life for wearers, allowing them to make quick, complex movements, easily step over obstacles, and even ascend stairs.

“The term 'amazing' is used around the world to describe the current standard of care, our C-Leg® microprocessor-controlled knee,” said Brad Ruhl, President and CEO of Otto Bock US HealthCare. “But the Genium moves us into a completely different arena, offering the closest thing to natural human motion currently available.”

The Genium offers new features that respond instantly to whatever changes in speed or direction the wearer makes.  It also helps reduce strain on the body as well as lowering the cognitive effort required to move through everyday and challenging activities.

“As a clinician, it is exciting to be able to offer this type of technology to prosthetists and patients everywhere,” commented Mark Edwards, MHPE, CP, and Otto Bock HealthCare US Director of Professional and Clinical Education.  “My background as a Prosthetist and educator exposes me to everything new to the market – and this is an innovation I’m truly proud to support.”

For more information, visit www.ottobockus.com/genium

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has awarded a contract for up to $34.5 million to The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Md., to manage the development and testing of the Modular Prosthetic Limb (MPL) system on human subjects, using a brain-controlled interface.

APL scientists and engineers developed the underlying technology under DARPA’s Revolutionizing Prosthetics 2009 program, an ambitious four-year effort to create a prosthetic arm that would by far eclipse the World War II era hook-and-cable device used by most amputees. The program has already produced two complex prototypes, each advancing the art of upper-arm prosthetics.

The final design — the MPL — offers 22 degrees of motion, including independent movement of each finger, in a package that weighs about nine pounds (the weight of a natural limb). Providing nearly as much dexterity as a natural limb, the MPL is capable of unprecedented mechanical agility and is designed to respond to a user’s thoughts.

“We’ve developed the enabling technologies to create upper-extremity prosthetics that are more natural in appearance and use, a truly revolutionary advancement in prosthetics,” said APL’s Michael McLoughlin, the program manager. “Now, in Phase 3, we are ready to test it with humans to demonstrate that the system can be operated with a patient’s thoughts and that it can provide that patient with sensory feedback, restoring the sensation of touch.”

The team will develop implantable micro-arrays used to record brain signals and stimulate the brain. They will also conduct experiments and clinical trials to demonstrate the ability to use implantable neural interfaces safely and effectively to control a prosthesis, and optimize arm control and sensory feedback algorithms that enable dexterous manipulation through the use of a neuro-prosthetic limb.

“We will be working very closely with the University of Pittsburgh and the California Institute of Technology for their experience in brain computer interfaces, the University of Chicago for their expertise in sensory perception, the University of Utah for its capabilities in developing implantable devices suitable for interfacing with the human brain, and HDT Engineered Technologies for their skill in building prosthetic limb systems,” McLoughlin said.

Both Pittsburgh and CalTech have conducted research using chips with hair-like electrodes to record neurological signatures in the brain. Last year, in an independent effort, Pittsburgh showed that a pair of macaque monkeys with tiny chips implanted in their brains could operate a robotic arm just by thinking about it. Wires carried the signals through the skull, and then computer software converted these signals into robotic arm movements.

Within the year, the APL-led team will initiate testing with a high spinal cord injury patient. “Initially, we have targeted the quadriplegic patient population because they have the most to gain,” McLoughlin explained. “Unlike most amputee patients who have other options in terms of care and independence, these patients are totally dependent on others for most things. There is no alternative. Their lives will be truly transformed by this advancement.”

Over the next two years, the team hopes to test the systems and neural interface technology in five patients.

Whereas Pittsburgh and CalTech are exploring innovative ways to record information from the brain, the University of Chicago’s research will focus on closing the loop by stimulating the brain to sense pressure and touch. “The goal is to enable the user to more effectively control movements to perform everyday tasks, such as picking up and holding a cup of coffee,” McLoughlin said.

The University of Utah, along with the Salt Lake City-based Blackrock Microsystems, is researching and developing advanced electrode technology for brain signal recording and stimulation. Innovative electrode designs are the enabling technology that will provide the means to control the prosthetic arm through the patient’s thoughts.

Finally, the Solon, Ohio-based HDT Engineered Technologies, which designed and manufactured major components of the current MPL, will enhance its capabilities and provide the limb system hardware required for this effort.

McLoughlin commented, “The results of this program will help upper-limb amputees and spinal cord injury patients, as well as others who have lost the ability to use their natural limbs, to have as normal a life as possible despite severe injuries or degenerative neurological disease.”

 
Developed by Otto Bock HealthCare in conjunction with Mayo Clinic, the Sensor Walk knee-ankle-foot orthosis (KAFO) is designed to improve quality of life for patients by making it easier and more secure to walk when the patient exhibits knee instability during weight bearing. An estimated 989,000 Americans wear a KAFO, according to a 1997 study. This includes people diagnosed with polio, stroke, neuropathies, spinal cord injuries, neurovascular trauma, spina bifida, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy and other neurological or development defects. Through state-of-the-art technology, Sensor Walk enhances stability during stance phase and provides stumble recovery by anticipating the need for stance stability even before the foot is in contact with the ground during the swing phase of gait.

As the report points out, the introduction of stance control orthoses is the first significant advance in KAFOs since braces switched from metal and leather to thermoplastics in the 1970s, and Sensor Walk is the only stance control orthotic with all of the following:

Stance control release as the foot unloads, allowing a more natural gait because knee extension is not required to unlock the joint;

Initiation of stance control in mid-swing, before contact with the ground, to make walking more secure and to provide stumble recovery;

A heavy-duty design for a weight limit up to 300 pounds;

Capability to manage knee flexion up to 15°.

To test the Sensor Walk prototype, Mayo Clinic’s Motion Analysis Laboratory conducted several studies, all but one involving actual KAFO users. Five articles based on Mayo Clinic research document the device’s performance and the real-life advantages it offers to patients who need a KAFO.

Research highlights detailed in the white paper include the instant improvement for new KAFO users, more normal knee motion, accommodation of more patients and significant gait benefits including a more energy-efficient gait. Mayo Clinic research also indicates that the Sensor Walk prototype instilled increased patient satisfaction through performance on KAFO users’ three most important criteria of effectiveness, operability and reliability.

The full text of the Sensor Walk white paper is available for review online at http://www.stancecontrolorthotics.com.

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Minnesota-based Otto Bock HealthCare LP was established in 1958 as the Americas corporate headquarters of Otto Bock HealthCare, GmbH, based in Duderstadt, Germany. Otto Bock has more than 3,800 employees worldwide and produces over 25,000 types of prosthetic and orthotic components, mobility and rehabilitation products, and is the U.S. leader in delivering continuous passive motion (CPM) services and related therapies. (www.ottobockus.com)

Contact: Cara Koski
CKPR (for Otto Bock HealthCare)
Cell: 612-716-1417
Email: cara.koski@gmail.com

People tend to take a lot of things for granted.

For instance, take our hands. Every day, without thinking about it, we use them to grasp all kinds of objects. But suppose you didn't have an opposable thumb or were missing one or more fingers? Suppose you had no hand at all?

Accidents and diseases such as meningitis and diabetes result in 50,000 new amputations every year in the U.S., according to the National Center for Health Statistics. It's estimated that 41,000 people in the U.S. are missing a whole hand or arm. In fact, the most common upper-body amputations are partial-hand, where one or more fingers are missing.

So what happens when you can no longer take the use of your hands for granted?

There's help and hope, right here in the Hudson Valley. Middletown-based Prosthetic and Orthotic Associates is using revolutionary technology to assist people with missing hands or fingers.

Chris Caron of New Paltz secures padding to the finger joints of a protective glove over an i-Limb prosthetic hand at Touch Bionics in Newburgh.     Times Herald-Record/CHET GORDON


Restoring the ability to grasp

P&O Associates fits people with an electronic prosthetic hand called i-Limb and electronic fingers known as ProDigits, both of which allow artificial replacement fingers to move independently of one another.

"A person with ProDigits or i-Limb may be able to grasp objects like a pen to write, or put on clothes, or even grasp a child's hand," said Tom Passero, president and clinical director of P&O Associates.

Passero, who lives in Sullivan County, is an American board-certified prosthetist (someone trained to replace missing human body parts). He sells a range of items to improve the quality of life for people missing limbs, and he passionately believes in those products.

"It's strange how the world operates," Passero said, explaining that in 1974 he was struck, while walking, by a drunken driver and lost his left leg below the knee. "The accident was a blessing in disguise, and I absolutely believe what I do is exactly what I was meant to do."

And now for the first time, Passero said, ProDigits makes it possible for people with partial hand amputation to have battery-operated fingers to grasp objects. There was no commercially available prosthesis that allowed active grasping for someone missing only fingers until Touch Bionics and the clinical team from P&O Associates launched ProDigits in December, Passero said.

Tying shoes, gripping a beverage, steering a vehicle: These everyday tasks, and many more, are possible for people missing fingers or hands, thanks to i-Limb prosthetics. Here, 23-year-old Michael Nye of Middletown demonstrates enhanced dexterity using his high-tech, electronic hand.     Times Herald-Record/CHET GORDON


'I can tie my shoelaces'

Middletown resident Michael Nye, born without a left hand, uses the i-Limb hand. Previously, the 23-year-old's only option was an electronic prosthetic hand that moved the forefinger and index finger (and in some models, the middle finger as well) against the thumb in a pincerlike grasp.

"When I was little I wore what was essentially a plastic doll-like hand," Nye said. "Then I wore an electronic hand (pincer-grip type) through middle school. It was extremely limiting. In fact, my family and I nicknamed it 'the cookie-cutter,' because breaking a cookie was all it was good for."

In 2007, Nye was chosen to be a tester, and he was fitted for the i-Limb. Now several kinds of grips are available to him. Among these is a "power grip" that allows him to use the hand to create a full wrap around a glass or cup. And the index finger may be extended, to point. He also can do other things that weren't possible before.

"I can tie my shoelaces," he said. "I work for the Town of Wallkill Parks Department and do a lot of lifting. I'm able to pick things up, hold a broom, and I can even steer my vehicle with my i-Limb while I shift with my right hand."

ProDigits works pretty much by the same concept. The prosthetic hand is slipped over the remnant hand and remaining finger(s), much like a glove. Electronic movements are stimulated by any viable muscle remaining in the patient's hand or stump. No surgery is necessary, and putting it on is noninvasive. However, the person has to be trained to make the subtle muscle movements necessary to activate the tiny electronic sensors in the prosthetic fingers, so that each may do what it was designed to do.

This breakthrough technology was developed during the early 1960s in Scotland by a company called Touch Bionics. The company originally made prosthetic devices for children born with deformed limbs resulting from their mothers' use of the drug thalidomide. The company's technology evolved to make ProDigits in 1993 and brought the i-Limb to market in 2007.

Lifelike synthetic skin

When Touch Bionics began testing the devices, they functioned well, but lacked a pleasing aesthetic look. The synthetic-skin covering for the fingers and hands looked and felt rubbery.

Touch Bionics contacted Passero because, in addition to fitting people with all types of prosthetic hands, feet and knees, he created and marketed his own synthetic skin that looked real, felt real and matched the person's skin tone.

Touch Bionics bought the LivingSkin component of Passero's business, and now Passero has integrated ProDigits and i-Limb into his prosthetic and orthotic company, with offices in Middletown, Monticello, Kingston and Poughkeepsie.

As director of clinical communications for Touch Bionics, Passero travels around the world demonstrating ProDigits and i-Limb to doctors and hospital personnel. These products are unique to Touch Bionics, and the company has fitted about 60 partial-hand amputees with ProDigits and 1,000 full-hand amputees with i-Limb hands, Passero said.

Some young men like to wear their i-Limb hands without the LivingSkin, said Passero. He describes it as "The Terminator look." For Nye, going "skinless" is a matter of pride.

"I'm not ashamed for people to see my high-tech hand," he said. "I like the look. I was proud to be a tester, and I'm not going to hide the technology that has improved my life. And if people stare, let 'em."

Covered by insurance

The prosthetic devices, which charge up just as cell phones do, come with hefty price tags. ProDigits cost $30,000 apiece and the i-Limbs about $70,000. So far, Passero said, insurance companies realize how valuable the products are to patients and have paid for everything.

"I don't want to mislead people," Passero said. "You won't be able to punch an object with the i-Limb and make a huge impact (as did the fictional TV characters Bionic Woman and Six Million Dollar Man). You can't play the piano with it, either.

"But we have people working on it."

sscruggs@th-record.com

 A devastating diagnosis of bone cancer meant a less than happy beginning to 2009 for 52-year old Karl Wideman of Negaunee.

“I was told in February that I had osteosarcoma which is plenty to have to deal with on its own,” says Karl. “But then I learned that it would be necessary to amputate my leg at the hip level as part of the treatment and was even told I would never walk again. That’s something you’re never prepared to hear.”

An active outdoorsman and an involved member of the community, both in his work as a psychologist helping patients deal with substance abuse and as a coach for his son’s Marquette County Youth Football team, Karl wasn’t willing to accept spending his days struggling to get from one place to the next. Following his amputation in May, he began researching options for prosthetic care in Marquette and contacted Lynn Vanwelsenaer, a Certified Prosthetist for Wright & Filippis, the nation’s largest family-owned provider of prosthetics. Lynn delivered the best news Karl had heard all year – a prosthetic that was recently developed specifically for patients whose limb loss surgery affected a hip joint was showing great success.

In September, Karl was fit with the Helix3D Hip Joint System from Otto Bock HealthCare. The first innovation in hip joints in a quarter of a century, the Helix3D name derives from the totally unique three-dimensional movement available from the product. This feature gives the prosthetic leg more natural movement, and the benefits range from the subtle, such as making it easier to get into a car or reach down to tie a shoe, to the profound, such as being able to walk without crutches for the first time.

“It was very rewarding to see Karl set aside his crutches and then his cane in order to walk on his own,” says Lynn. “What really made it special and a bit amazing is he was able to do it the very first day he was fit with his new limb.”

Otto Bock’s C-Leg® is also part of Karl’s prosthesis. The world's first completely computer-controlled artificial leg, the C-Leg utilizes microprocessors to control the knee's hydraulic function 50 times a second, giving incredible stability and mobility to those with lower limb loss. It allows users to walk down stairs step-over-step for the first time since losing their limb and to walk down ramps or slopes and over rough terrain without the fear of falling down, a common occurrence for lower limb amputees using conventional prosthetic legs.  Programmed via a laptop computer to match the unique gait of Karl’s sound leg, the C-Leg can also be set for different modes (stances for biking, golfing, inline skating, etc.) which are accessed using a remote control.

Karl, through rehab, continues to increase his mobility and independence and doesn’t plan to let up anytime soon.

“I have a busy life I’m excited to be returning to including getting back out into the woods on my four-wheeler, playing sports with my son, my career. I’ve come a long way from being told I would never walk again, and I’m anxious to keep moving forward.”

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Minnesota-based Otto Bock HealthCare LP was established in 1958 as the Americas corporate headquarters of Otto Bock HealthCare, GmbH, based in Duderstadt, Germany. Otto Bock has more than 3,800 employees worldwide and produces over 25,000 types of prosthetic and orthotic components, mobility and rehabilitation products, and is the U.S. leader in delivering continuous passive motion (CPM) services and related therapies. (www.ottobockus.com)

Contact: Cara Koski
CKPR (for Otto Bock HealthCare)
Cell: 612-716-1417
Email: cara.koski@gmail.com

 

Vol. 20 • Issue 23 • Page 14   More than 200,000 people have a stroke each year, and millions more have multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury and other conditions that impact the nervous system. The effect of these conditions on the nervous system is profound and often leaves individuals struggling with physical disability and deficits of the hand, arm and leg. Individuals with neurological impairments are typically prescribed a course of physical and occupational therapy to assist with motor recovery and functional gains. However, therapy time is often limited and focused on teaching patients how to accommodate their limitations, rather than regaining function in their affected limb(s). Treatment strategies are shifting to target recovery of function combined with therapeutic modalities. Over the past decade, researchers have gained more knowledge about how both the nervous system and brain function in the aftermath of a neurologic impairment. A recent advance in the field of neurostimulation offers hope for those who have mobility issues, specifically from gait dysfunction. By combining functional electrical stimulation (FES) and repetitive, task-specific, functional movement patterns, therapists now are able to quickly create the optimal treatment session and obtain immediate results.   Targeting the Nervous System FES is a rehabilitation technique that uses sequential electrical stimulation of the peripheral nerve to achieve sensory and motor activation for purposeful movement and function. By directly stimulating both sensory and motor nerve fibers as well as providing joint movement for proprioceptive feedback, individuals may feel and see improvements in just one treatment session. FES allows therapists to help patients move their arms or legs through a normal, patterned physical activity that otherwise is not possible to perform on their own. Additionally, the technology addresses musculoskeletal limitations by relaxing muscle spasms, increasing muscle strength and mass, and increasing joint range of motion. Most importantly, it provides valuable and necessary input to the nervous system. Research has shown that FES can influence cortical reorganization and facilitate neuroplastic changes in the brain. Traditionally, FES technology with cumbersome wires required a therapist to treat patients, which was not only time consuming, but alsocould not be easily administered outside of a rehabilitation facility. The next generation of FES devices, such as the NESS L300™Foot Drop System and the NESS H200™Hand Rehabilitation System, are designed to be self-administered by a patient for daily use. The innovative wireless design allows ease of placement both in the clinic and at home, as well as accurate electrode placement with each use. The NESS L300 Foot Drop System™helps patients walk smoother and faster, and allows them to participate in activities that were previously impossible.1The FDA-approved device consists of two components, a small transmitter in the shoe and device fitted below the knee. During ambulation, the L300 sends electronic signals to stimulate the peroneal nerve, activating the ankle dorsiflexors, the muscles that lift the foot during swing phase. H200 Hand Rehabilitation System®uses electrical stimulation to improve hand function in certain patients, helping patients perform daily activities and reeducate muscles over time. The device consists of a light-weight orthosis and a hand-held control unit and is designed to provide both functional and therapeutic benefit for individuals with neurological disorders affecting the function of the arm and hand. This medical advance has allowed therapists to combine both FES interventions and traditional treatment approaches, offering excellent measured functional gains. Total Rehab Care credits these advances in FES technology, as well as a focused interdisciplinary team approach for the success of their patients' motor recovery.     One Case Example In May 2009, 13-year-old Cameron Beckner was participating in his middle school track meet and collapsed just after he completed the 800-meter race. Three hours later, he was diagnosed with a stroke due to a congenital malformation of his internal carotid artery. The ischemic attack caused complete paralysis of his left side, slurred speech and mild cognitive deficits. After completing three weeks of inpatient therapy, Cameron was referred for outpatient rehab services at Total Rehab Care, where he was evaluated by physical, occupational and speech therapy services. A team approach and an intense five-day per week rehab program enabled Cameron to participate in therapy for five hours each day for a total of 12 weeks. Cameron's intense therapy started in June 2009; at his initial evaluation, he was walking with a single Loftstrand crutch and AFO (ankle-foot-orthosis) to assist with clearance of his left lower extremity during swing phase. When Cameron arrived at Total Rehab Care, he had no functional use of his left upper extremity and limited tolerance for activity due to muscle fatigue. Therapists determined that he could benefit from FES technology, and he was properly fitted for the NESS L300 to re-educate the muscles in his left leg and improve his safety and balance during all dynamic tasks. From the first treatment session, Cameron loved watching the movement in his foot and walking without his rigid AFO on all surfaces. Daily, he would request to use the NESS L300 and would often say "this is cool." Likewise, his family was overjoyed to watch him walk without his brace and achieve a normal walking pattern with ease and consistency. Within two weeks, Cameron went from wearing the device for 20 minutes in therapy to being a community ambulator with decreased effort and improved walking speed across level ground. After four weeks, he was no longer reliant on an assistive device for walking. The FES foot drop system enhanced the clinical treatment sessions with Cameron, providing him with a good foundation and control at the ankle. His therapists were able to focus on the quality of movement and stability of his hip and knee, and qualities of his gait that were never in reach while he was wearing his rigid AFO. Over the next several weeks, Cameron demonstrated improved gait symmetry, consistent heel strike, and increased walking speed over ground and on the treadmill while using an overhead harness support system. Cameron also demonstrated immediate improvements in his balance. His family noted that he completely eliminated any falls once he started using the NESS L300 at home. The FES foot drop system helps patients complete normal movement patterns without wearing rigid AFOs and using compensatory strategies to advance the leg during swing phase. We perform balance exercises, repetitive step ups, walking on uneven terrain in addition to treadmill walking with patients.     Community Re-Entry Today, Cameron continues to use the NESS L300 during all walking hours. This is a huge asset to his daily routine of school and attending sporting and community events. He continues to use the training mode for 20 minutes of repetitive movement into dorsiflexion daily. In addition to the NESS L300, Cameron's therapy regimen includes fun therapeutic activities such as Wii exercises, resistive training, weight training, Total Gym, dynamic balance exercises, aquatic therapy, kick boxing, golf and his favorite activity, kick ball. During Cameron's recovery he did experience an increased flexor tone pattern of his fingers. He received small dose injections of Botox followed by intense use of the NESS H200 Hand Rehabilitation System both in the clinic and at home. Community re-entry is a central feature of Total Rehab Care's therapeutic approach. His therapists met with Cameron's family, teachers and counselors to assure a successful transition back to school. With very few accommodations, Cameron returned to school successfully and continues outpatient therapy services three times per week. In addition, he participates in a home program, H200 Hand Protocol, weight training, and aquatics to continue his motor recovery. Cameron is a very active athlete. Despite not being able to physically play football this year, his team members appointed him co-captain. With the assistance of the FES foot drop system, he is able to walk out onto the football field and help during practices-even on uneven field surfaces. Unable to play contact sports at this time, Cameron has picked up the game of golf. With the help of the NESS L300, Cameron recently went golfing with his occupational therapist. The advances in FES technology have greatly improved Total Rehab Care's functional outcome gains. Patients can take charge of their recovery and lives again. Many patients no longer need to rely on a rigid AFO and can regain confidence with a normal, coordinated walking pattern. In addition, patients leave our program more confident and satisfied with their overall motor recovery.     Reference 1. Hausdorff, J., & Ring, H. (2006). The Effect of the NESS L300 Neuroprosthesis on Gait Stability and Symmetry (abstract). Journal of Neurological Physical Therapy, (4), 195-200 (included in CSM 2007 Platform Presentations).   Judy Peck is a physical therapist assistant at Total Rehab Care of Washington County Hospital, Hagerstown, MD.

 
Imagine technology so advanced that it may help stroke and other neurological patients regain lost mobility and achieve greater independence than they believed to be possible. This highly sophisticated technology is now a reality.

Central nervous system injuries often result in foot drop—leading to instability and difficulty walking. The NESS L300™ is a revolution in Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) technology, designed to help patients who experience foot drop to regain mobility and help “normalize” walking and gait.
The L300 uses wireless communication to “talk” to its components, eliminating cumbersome wires, and allowing the clinician the ability to fine-tune settings while the patient is actually walking. This user-friendly system is appropriate for a broad range of conditions, including stroke, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, and incomplete spinal cord injury.

The NESS L300™ is a unique lightweight Ankle-Foot Stimulator (AFS) worn on the lower-leg in place of a traditional foot brace. Sensors detect whether the patient's foot is in the air or on the ground, and electrodes transmit low-level electrical stimulation to the peroneal nerve to activate the anterior tibialis and peroneal muscles and improve their gait.

This system is engineered to produce optimum therapeutic benefits for patients, while simultaneously creating minimal disruption to daily life. The unique design allows the clinician to custom-fit each Functional Stimulation Cuff ensuring maximum patient comfort. The simplicity of the system enables patients to apply and remove it when necessary. The simplicity of the NESS L300 system also encourages more frequent use, which can help facilitate greater patient compliance.

The NESS L300 is being used throughout the country with positive results in Orthotist and Prosthetist clinics, rehabilitation settings, as well as in the home. Through these and other medical innovations, Bioness strives to deliver advanced technologies that help patients and families address the effects of neurological disorders. For more information, please contact us at www.bioness.com.




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Bioness Inc.
www.bioness.com
25103 Rye Canyon Loop
Valencia, CA 91355
800-211-9136, option 2 (Toll Free)
661-362-4850 (Telephone)
877-362-4855 (Fax)