Tom Shelley reports on a mechanical coupling that dramatically improves the lives of leg amputeesMedical technology company, Blatchford, has developed an artificial ankle joint that uses an adjustable hydraulic damping device to restore much of the lower limbs natural movements.
The design approach was based on the analysis of the combined leg-ankle-foot system, rather than the requirement of each individual component part which then need to be integrated together. The philosophy has brought great benefit to both the company and the individuals that have use it.
It demonstrates the benefit that a design based on complete mechanical system analysis can bring. In this case, the resulting 'Endolite' has moved to the front of a market already occupied by several hundred competitive products. It has rapidly gained popularity in the US since its release last October with many veterans of the Iraq and Afghan wars regaining much in the way of mobility.
As soon as we arrived at its headquarters in Basingstoke, technical director Professor Saeed Zahedi introduced us to Nigel Kingston. Kingston was standing on a slight slope at the entrance of the building and commented: "You quickly realise how many uneven surfaces there are when you become an amputee."
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