Legs
- In 1696, Pieter Verduyn – First nonlocking below-knee (BK) prosthesis.
-This became the standard form all other prosthetics would follow, in regards to the below knee prosthesis.
-This design was somewhat revolutionary; it was the first leg prosthesis to allow the leg to properly bend and move as real leg would have.
- In 1800, James Potts – Prosthesis made of a wooden shank and socket, a steel knee joint and an articulated foot that was controlled by catgut tendons from the knee to the ankle. Came to be known as “Anglesey Leg” or “Selpho Leg.”
-First well known advancement of the first nonlocking below knee (BK) prosthesis
-it allowed for greater movement then the Verduyn design by the implementing of the medical material, catgut tendon.
- In 1843, Sir James Syme – A new method of ankle amputation that did not involve amputating at the thigh.
-although not directly affecting the advancement of prosthesis, it did allow a greater chance to walk properly with a simple foot prosthesis and not a full bodied leg prosthesis.
- In 1846, Benjamin Palmer – Improved upon the Selpho leg. Added an anterior spring and concealed tendons to simulate natural-looking movement.
-this was more an aesthetic advancement, with the exception of the anterior spring which allowed for greater moviblity.
- In 1863, Dubois Parmlee – Created prosthetic with a suction socket, polycentric knee, and multi-articulated foot.
-this was a great advancement in the evolution of prosthesis, by allowing a firmer hold on the “stump” and to allow the greater flexibility of the knee joint. The foot portion helped to stabilize balance.
- In 1912, Marcel Desoutter & Charles Desoutter – First aluminum prosthesis
-This replaced a steal structure allowing for a lighter and more effect prosthetic leg.
- Although there wasn’t much technological advancement in prosthesis during WW1 to the end of WW2, the surgeon general of the army understood the need for further development and created the “American Orthotic & Prosthetic Association (AOPA)”.
- After WW2 many amputee veterans complained about the “underdeveloped” prosthesis they used, so the US government made a deal with military companies to focus more on the advancement of prosthesis rather than their military weaponry.
Two examples of modern knee/leg prosthesis are:
- In the 1980s, Sabolich Prosthetics, John Sabolich C.P.O., invented the Contoured Adducted Trochanteric-Controlled Alignment Method (CATCAM) socket, later evolved into the Sabolich Socket
-Prior, sockets were made in the shape of a square bucket with no specialized containment for either the patient’s bony prominences’ or muscular tissue. Sabolich’s design held the patient’s limb like a glove, locking it into place and distributing the weight evenly over the existing limb as well as the bone structure of the patient.
- In 1997, the Otto Bock Orthopedic Industry introduced the C-Leg during the World Congress on Orthopedics in Nuremberg.
-The C-Leg uses hydraulic cylinders to control the flexing of the knee. Sensors send signals to the microprocessor that analyzes these signals, and communicates what resistance the hydraulic cylinders should supply.
