Prosthetics advance at war casualty pace

Washington Times ^ | December 12, 2007 | Jen Waters

[neverdem]

Nothing is going to keep Louis Wolf from moving forward. In January 2005, the 67-year-old resident from Northwest suffered a sudden blood clot after a 20-hour flight from Vietnam to Chicago, Ill. The blood clot led to the amputation of his left leg in March 2005. Before the surgery, he said he made a conscious decision to walk again.

He currently wears a C-Leg, a top-of-line computerized leg that allows him to keep that promise. Many military personnel who have lost limbs while serving in the war in Iraq are using similar prosthetics.

"If not for the war, though I'm very much opposed to it, the advancements in prosthetics wouldn't be happening at the rate they are," Mr. Wolf says. "I am one of the lucky ones."

The bionic man or woman may soon be more than a character in a science-fiction television show. Advancements in prosthetics are making artificial limbs more and more like human arms and legs.

Microprocessors in lower and upper extremities have improved the function and safety of the artificial limbs, says Charlie Crone, a certified prosthetist and clinical liaison to support prosthetics, orthotics and pedorthics at the Georgetown University Hospital in Northwest. He is also clinical director of the prosthetic division at the Nascott Rehabilitation Services in Fairfax. Mr. Wolf is his patient.

A microprocessor is a miniaturized electronic device that can process vast amounts of information at an excessive speed. The information travels from the reaction of the patient to support the movement of the prosthetics, Mr. Crone says.

Knees with microprocessors can adjust about 1,000 times per second for stability, regulating the valve settings and resistance for sudden movements and reactions that the patient initiates, he says. The minicomputers take into account where people place their weight, and the timing and speed of...

[neverdem]

C-Leg

[Grizzled Bear]

“If not for the war, though I’m very much opposed to it, the advancements in prosthetics wouldn’t be happening at the rate they are,” Mr. Wolf says. “I am one of the lucky ones.”

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The war pushed improvements in prosthetics. Wold is lucky to get that. Oh yeah, and that freedom-thing that he takes for granted too.

[neverdem]

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Red Fluorescent Cat Cloned

FReepmail me if you want on or off my health and science ping list.

[SunkenCiv]

In January 2005, the 67-year-old resident from Northwest suffered a sudden blood clot after a 20-hour flight from Vietnam to Chicago, Ill... "If not for the war, though I'm very much opposed to it, the advancements in prosthetics wouldn't be happening at the rate they are," Mr. Wolf says. "I am one of the lucky ones."

Fascinating itinerary. Thanks neverdem.