THE BiOM: A BIONIC PROSTHETIC LEG-ANKLE SYSTEM ALYSSA BROWNJENNIFER CHICKOLA Conventional Prosthesis 0.78± ± ± ± ±0.65 Bionic Prosthesis 1.26± ± ± ± ±0.87 Non- Amputee 1.50± = ± ± ±0.58 Table 1: Average Maximum Ankle Joint Power [1] Walking Velocity (m/s) ADVANTAGES OF THE BiOM Decreased instances of Osteoarthritis in Patients Lowered need for knee and hip replacements in patients Increased walking speed, lower amount of energy required to walk at the same pace as a person with a biological leg The BiOM is custom fitted to each individual’s needs using MRI imaging to create a mathematical description of the leg (Figure 2) [3] ADVANTAGES OF THE BiOM Decreased instances of Osteoarthritis in Patients Lowered need for knee and hip replacements in patients Increased walking speed, lower amount of energy required to walk at the same pace as a person with a biological leg The BiOM is custom fitted to each individual’s needs using MRI imaging to create a mathematical description of the leg (Figure 2) [3] Figure 1: The BiOM Prosthetic [2] Figure 2: A mathematical description of a biological leg [3] PASSIVE ELASTIC PROSTHETICS Passive elastic prosthetic models fail to provide power outside of the amputees normal step These models are not nearly as efficient as a biological leg Amputees cannot maintain a normal walking speed and gait due to the energy that is lost during the step while using a passive elastic model [1] This loss of energy results in a significantly lower walking speed among amputees Passive elastic models often cause unnecessary pain, causing added walking difficulty for the user [2] PASSIVE ELASTIC PROSTHETICS Passive elastic prosthetic models fail to provide power outside of the amputees normal step These models are not nearly as efficient as a biological leg Amputees cannot maintain a normal walking speed and gait due to the energy that is lost during the step while using a passive elastic model [1] This loss of energy results in a significantly lower walking speed among amputees Passive elastic models often cause unnecessary pain, causing added walking difficulty for the user [2] BIONIC PROSTHETICS Bionic propulsion provides amputees with a push that provides the extra energy that is lost during a step when using passive elastic models By providing net positive work during a step, the BiOM allows users to maintain normal walking speeds and helps normalize gait Statistics show that the BiOM ankle, a bionic prosthetic, provides more power when walking versus a conventional prosthetic, thus allowing amputees to walk faster and with a normalized pace (Table 1) [1] Because the metabolic cost of walking is significantly lower when comparing the BiOM to conventional prosthetics, users tend to walk at a 23% faster velocity BIONIC PROSTHETICS Bionic propulsion provides amputees with a push that provides the extra energy that is lost during a step when using passive elastic models By providing net positive work during a step, the BiOM allows users to maintain normal walking speeds and helps normalize gait Statistics show that the BiOM ankle, a bionic prosthetic, provides more power when walking versus a conventional prosthetic, thus allowing amputees to walk faster and with a normalized pace (Table 1) [1] Because the metabolic cost of walking is significantly lower when comparing the BiOM to conventional prosthetics, users tend to walk at a 23% faster velocity DISADVANTAGES OF THE BiOM The BiOM in it’s current state of production costs about 5 times as much as a passive elastic model The complex technology used in the BiOM leg (Figure 1) can easily malfunction and there are very few trained professionals capable of repairing the BiOM Because of the unique customization, this leg cannot be mass produced and distributed for public use DISADVANTAGES OF THE BiOM The BiOM in it’s current state of production costs about 5 times as much as a passive elastic model The complex technology used in the BiOM leg (Figure 1) can easily malfunction and there are very few trained professionals capable of repairing the BiOM Because of the unique customization, this leg cannot be mass produced and distributed for public use SUSTAINABILITY WITHIN THE BiOM DESIGN Fewer medical side effects and expenses with the use of the BiOM than that of a passive elastic prosthetic. The BiOM is more durable than passive elastic models as it is designed for active use, therefore reducing the need for replacement over time. SUSTAINABILITY WITHIN THE BiOM DESIGN Fewer medical side effects and expenses with the use of the BiOM than that of a passive elastic prosthetic. The BiOM is more durable than passive elastic models as it is designed for active use, therefore reducing the need for replacement over time. SOURCES: [1] H. Herr. A. Grabowski. (2011). “Bionic ankle—foot prosthesis normalizes walking gait for persons with leg a mputation.” The Royal Society of Biological Sciences. (article). rspb full.pdf [2] R. Hixenbaugh. (2014). “VA Transiitons from Traditional Prosthetics to Personal Bionics.” The Disabled World. (article). world.com/assistivedevices/prostheses/bionics.php [3] H. Herr. (2014). “The new bionics that let us run, climb, and dance.” TED Talks. (video). t_us_run_climb_and_dance?language=en SOURCES: [1] H. Herr. A. Grabowski. (2011). “Bionic ankle—foot prosthesis normalizes walking gait for persons with leg a mputation.” The Royal Society of Biological Sciences. (article). rspb full.pdf [2] R. Hixenbaugh. (2014). “VA Transiitons from Traditional Prosthetics to Personal Bionics.” The Disabled World. (article). world.com/assistivedevices/prostheses/bionics.php [3] H. Herr. (2014). “The new bionics that let us run, climb, and dance.” TED Talks. (video). t_us_run_climb_and_dance?language=en