1. Engineering of Extreme Sports
Prosthetics
June 26, 2007

2. Importance Prosthetics enable people to function “normally”
Mimic human body part function
Engineering plays a role in achieving 100% normal function
Not there yet
Why do you guys think prosthetics are important?
Does anyone have any injuries that have affected their everyday life?
What does engineering have to do with it?

3. Introduction Types of prosthetics
Upper Extremity
Lower Extremity
Transtibial (below the knee)
Transfemoral (above the knee)
Available for a variety of different activities
Gymnastics, basketball, football, baseball, skiing
Prosthetics systems consist of the socket and the prosthesis
The prosthesis varies depending on the situation

4. Prosthetic Socket
The socket is the interface between the residual limb and the prosthesis
It is the most important component
Socket must be both comfortable and functional for it to be usable

5. Prosthesis Upper Extremity Prosthetics
Need the ability to reach, grasp, hold and release objects
Some may also require an “elbow”
Typically some sort of shock absorption system

6. Prosthesis Lower Extremity Prosthetics
A below-the-knee prosthetic includes
Foot/ankle assembly
Suspension
Pylon
An above-the-knee prosthetic has an additional knee joint

7. Extreme Athletic Prosthetics

8. Warren Macdonald
Double amputee at mid-thigh Left with only six inches of natural femur on each leg
Impossible to maneuver full-length prosthetics legs up rock faces
Hanger Orthopedic Group Inc. (largest manufacturer) designed miniature, carbon-fiber climbing legs
Stands only 4’4” tall on his prosthetic legs

9. Miniature Climbing Legs
Miniature legs keep center of gravity low, thus enabling a person to complete technical maneuvers
Legs are spring loaded
Shock absorption to withstand jolts
Climbing feet that can be placed into small crags and footholds
Consist of cut down Vibram (rubber) boot soles with a rotator

10. Accomplishments
Since his amputation, Warren has completed expeditions such as:
El Capitan in Yosemite National Park
3000 ft. vertical rock face
The Weeping Wall in Banff National Park
Vertical ice wall
Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa
Tallest peak at 19,340 ft.
Federation Peak in Australia

11. Aron Ralston
While climbing Blue John Canyon in Utah, a boulder fell and pinned his arm for 5 days
Self-amputated his arm below his elbow to survive
Also worked with Hanger Prosthetics to develop a prosthesis for mountaineering and ice climbing
Since, he has solo climbed all 59 of Colorado’s 14,000-foot peaks

12. Modified Arm Sticky rubber assists in maintenance of friction
Harness system assists in the bent-elbow position
Static, body powered devices
Hand Unit Attachments
Ice Axe attachment
Mixed climbing components coated in Urethane to protect from rubbing against rock

13. Will Craig Single arm amputee Avid mountain biker and doctor
Used his knowledge of the human body and love of biking to develop the first technical riding arm for mountain biking

14. The Arm Developed by Advanced Prosthetic Technologies
Developed by Advanced Prosthetic Technologies
System consists of three components:
An arm, hand, and tool bracket
Able to flex, extend, rotate, and adjust to varying angles depending on the rider
Fox Racing Shock absorbs jolts as a natural elbow would
Able to ride technical trails, carving turns, jumping, and launching

15. The Hand The terminal device of the arm
Threads into a standard wrist unit
Allows for wrist flexion and extension
Tool bracket acts like human fingers to securely clamp down on the handle bars
Makes the hand a multifunctional device
An amputee can use their pre-existing tools and modified tools can be used by others

16. Jarem Frye Above the knee leg amputee
Developed sophisticated knee-joint prosthetics that allow him to telemark ski, surf, bike, climb, wakeboard, etc.
Founded Symbiotechs USA to market his prosthetic knee

17. XT9 Knee
Prosthetic knee developed for sports that require advanced knee articulation
Constructed from aircraft-grade titanium
Corrosion resistant in conditions such as snow, ice and water
Shock component functions as the amputee’s missing thigh muscle to absorb impact
Fully adjustable to a person’s weight, intensity level, activity, and terrain
Show Video

18. Biomechanics
Before all of these prosthetics can be developed, we must understand how the body works
Biomechanics uses the laws of physics and engineering concepts to describe motion of body segments, and the forces which act upon them during activity

19. Gait Symmetry A basic start to biomechanics is walking
A normal healthy person exhibits certain characteristics
Swing Period (34%)
Stance Period (62%)
Symmetry between feet

20. Data

21. Gait Symmetry Lab
Using the shoes from the skateboard lab, we are going to look at the gait of an individual
Normal gait
Altered gait with knee brace and ankle brace

22. Conclusion

23. This workforce solution was funded by a grant awarded under the Workforce Innovation in Regional Development (WIRED) as implemented by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration working in partnership with the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, the Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation, and the City and County of Denver's Office of Economic Development.  The solution was created by the grantee and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Labor.  The Department of Labor makes no guarantees, warranties, or assurances of any kind, express or implied, with respect to such information, including any information on linked sites and including, but not limited to, accuracy of the information or its completeness, timeliness, usefulness, adequacy, continued availability, or ownership.  This solution is copyrighted by the institution that created it. Internal use by an organization and/or personal use by an individual for non-commercial purposes is permissible.  All other uses require the prior authorization of the copyright owner.