Feature

The pace-maker

The Empower prosthesis by Ottobock helps its wearer regain lost freedom of movement – using a powerful brushless motor that releases the energy of a calf muscle at every step.

03/09/2018 09:56:58

Calf muscles are essential for walking and provide most of the energy needed for every step. People who've had a transtibial amputation therefore tire quickly when they walk on prosthetic feet. This makes it almost impossible to keep a normal daily routine – a fact that has long bothered Hugh Herr. After a mountaineering accident, the professor at MIT in Boston had both legs amputated below the knee. Not one to be defeated by this fate, he has spent years tinkering to develop the perfect prosthesis: “Everyone should have the right to walk. We don't have to accept our limitations.”

When Hugh Herr finally presented his high-tech prosthesis, the public was nothing short of astonished. His gait was natural, hardly different from any other human. He even performed a quick sprint, something that had previously been considered impossible.

Read the full article in the September issue of DPA

Written By Sophia Bell

Sophia Bell is the Group Editor of DPA, Connectivity, and PBSI. She joined the team in 2020 as Assistant Editor after achieving a First-Class Honours BA in English Literature and Film Studies from the University of East Anglia. In her current role, she leads the editorial strategy, driving digital growth and ensuring each title continues to deliver trusted, relevant insight for engineering and manufacturing professionals.