Open Source Artificial Leg Introduced

The researchers explained that knees, ankles and legs are under development around the world to

to help patients walk, equipped with electric motors.Such powerful prosthetics require safe and reliable control systems that canTake into account many different types of movements: for example, the transition from stepping on flat ground to walking up or down ramps or stairs.

To solve this problem, scientists have developeda device called Open Source Leg. They detailed the results of their research in the journal Nature Biomedical Engineering. The accompanying free step-by-step guides accompany the artificial limb to assist researchers wishing to assemble it or order parts for it. The researchers also released videos illustrating the assembly and testing of the hardware, and developed code to program the prosthesis to walk using a pre-control system.

The bionic leg they designed weighsonly 4 kg. Although it is much lighter than a biological leg, it still seems heavier for patients, because they do not attach closely to the skeleton, but to the prosthetic device. An open source device costs between $ 10,000 and $ 30,000, depending on variant. Commercially available powered prostheses cost up to $ 100,000, the researchers note.

By the end of their study, scientists conductedopen source leg clinical trial with three volunteers. When they wore the new device in a hospital setting, they were able to achieve the goals set by the physical therapists - they walked up and down and found that the device gave them a feeling of support, responsiveness, and fluidity.

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