Michael Hahn, Ph.D.
VA Center of Excellence for Limb Loss Prevention and Prosthetic Engineering
E-mail: mehahn@uw....


TITLE:

"Updates in Prosthetic Research: Function of Foot Stiffness and Development of Myoelectric Control"


ABSTRACT

Many prosthetic feet on market today lack the potential for adjusting component stiffness,
instead providing a "3 sizes fit all" approach. Our group has begun systematically testing the
effect of different stiffness ranges on walking function using an experimental multi-component
prosthetic foot. Another area of prosthetic engineering involves the development and
implementation of powered, microprocessor-controlled systems. One area for improvement in these
devices lies in developing control laws that are more biomimetic and adaptive to the individual
prosthetic user. Additionally, it is important to know how the human will adapt to using a
powered system, especially one that responds to their neuromotor inputs.