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.