BEDFORD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--iWalk, the bionics company advancing technology to restore natural movement for lower-limb amputees, today announced the publication of positive findings from Proceedings B , the Royal Society's flagship biological research journal.
The clinical study, entitled, “Bionic Ankle-Foot Prosthesis Normalizes Walking Gait for Persons with Leg Amputation, July 2011,” determined that lower-limb amputees who wore the PowerFoot BiOM, iWalk’s bionic lower leg system, were able to walk at the same speed, and with the same metabolic energy, as their peers with intact biological limbs. The research results defy convention as traditional lower limb prostheses, constructed of carbon fiber, have proven incapable of adapting to various terrains and walking velocities while requiring the amputee to expend significantly more energy —anywhere from 10 to 30 percent—than non-amputees.
The study, conducted by the Center for Restorative and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Veterans Affairs, concluded that amputees using the BiOM “experienced normative ankle mechanics” during walking that “normalized metabolic energy costs compared with non-amputees.” Further, the results indicated that the BiOM “improved functional ability” as users “preferred to walk at the same velocity as non-amputees” and that these individuals “increased preferred walking velocity by 23 percent compared to traditional carbon fiber foot/ankle systems.”
The BiOM is the world’s first bionic lower leg system that utilizes robotics to replicate muscles and tendons that replace the action of the foot, Achilles tendon and calf muscle. It generates power during plantar flexion—any movement in walking that increases the approximate 90 degree angle between the front part of the foot and the shin, akin to depressing an automobile pedal—propelling the prosthesis forward. Through a series of sensors, the BiOM can adapt to changing terrain in real time, adjusting ankle stiffness and power delivery, to ensure a consistent, efficient gait.
iWalk today also announced the general availability of the BiOM through a network of iWalk Certified Bionics Centers.
“The PowerFoot BiOM emulates the biological function of the ankle foot complex,” said Dr. Hugh Herr, Founder of iWalk. “This study further proves that this type of bionic technology is providing an extraordinary capacity to improve the quality of life for amputees.”
About iWalk
iWalk is the bionics company advancing technology to restore natural movement for lower-limb amputees. Its proprietary BiOM uses robotics to replicate muscles and tendons for the first time, normalizing walking at all speeds and all terrains—truly bringing in the age of bionics. The company was founded in 2006 by Dr. Hugh Herr, director of the Biomechatronics Group at the MIT Media Lab.
Privately held and headquartered in Bedford, Mass, the company has received funding and support from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. Army’s Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center (TATRC), and leading venture firms WFD Ventures , General Catalyst Partners and Sigma Partners. For more information, please visit www.iwalk.com or follow us on Facebook or Twitter (@iWalk_BiOM).