Prosthetics and Orthotics
Tuesday, April 10, 4:00-5:30, Ballroom A, University Hotel Minneapolis

Organizer: Andrew H. Hansen, PhD, Rehabilitation Research and Development, Minneapolis VA Health Care System and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University

"The RIC arm and Other Developments"
Jon Sensinger, PhD, Center for Bionic Medicine, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation/ Mechanical Engineering, Northwestern University

"Sub-ischial Prosthetic Socket with Vacuum-Assisted Suspension for Persons with Transfermoral Amputation"
Stefania Fatone, PhD, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University

"Design issues and development process of a wheelchair mounted mobile arm support"
Just Herder, PhD, Delft University

"Terrain Detection & Terrain Adaption in Prosthetic Feet"
Urs Schneider, MD, PhD, Department Orthopedics & Motion Systems, Fraunhofer Institute IPA

Session Abstract:

This session will highlight recent development activities from around the world in the area of prosthetics and orthotics. Two presentations will focus on upper limb orthotics and prosthetics and two presentations will focus on lower limb prosthetics.

Session Organizer Bio:

Andrew H. Hansen, PhD, Rehabilitation Research & Development, Minneapolis VA Health Care System & Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Andrew is the Director of the Minneapolis VA Rehabilitation Engineering Research Program and is an Adjunct Associate Professor at Northwestern University. Andrew is an internationally recognized expert in ankle-foot prosthetics. His group is actively developing a number of rehabilitation technologies and performing research studies to evaluate effects of medical devices on user performance.

Speaker Bios:

Jon Sensinger, Center for Bionic Medicine, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation / Mechanical Engineering, Northwestern University
Jon Sensinger is the director of the Prosthesis Design and Control Laboratory at RIC and Northwestern University. He is interested in mechatronic design and haptic control of prostheses, along with body-powered prostheses and developing-world applications.

Stefania Fatone, PhD, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University
Stefania is one of a small cadre of qualified prosthetist/orthotists with a PhD. She has published over 30 peer-reviewed articles, editorials, and book chapters in the last decade on the effects of prosthetic and orthotic devices on gait and function as well as the role of the spine in standing and walking. She is currently leading multiple research and development projects at the Northwestern University Prosthetics-Orthotics Center.

Just Herder, PhD, Delft University
Just Herder is professor at the University of Twente and associate professor at Delft University of Technology. He published over 100 papers, 20 patents and received several awards. He is active in conferences and journals, and in starting up companies.

Urs Schneider, MD, PhD, Fraunhofer Institute
Urs is head of the Fraunhofer Orthopedics Research Department in Stuttgart. He is a medical doctor and leads a interdisciplinary engineering team with research focus on improved mobility solutions in rehabilitation and in orthopedic surgery.

Presentation Abstracts:

"The RIC arm and Other Developments"
An overview of the RIC arm and its enabling technologies will be presented, followed by a brief presentation of other new prosthetic devices being developed at RIC.

"Sub-ischial Prosthetic Socket with Vacuum-Assisted Suspension for Persons with Transfermoral Amputation"
The presentation will provide an overview of our efforts to develop a subischial prosthetic socket with vacuum-assisted suspension for highly-active persons with transfemoral amputation.  The goal of our socket is to be as flexible as possible in order to improve comfort and performance.

"Design issues and development process of a wheelchair mounted mobile arm support"
This presentation will address the complete design process of a mobile arm support from patient request to product realization. The focus will be on concept generation and selection, as well as on the evolution steps and user involvement.

"Terrain Detection & Terrain Adaption in Prosthetic Feet"
The presentation will show approaches to solutions for obstacle and ground detection and adaption in prosthetics. The intention of our research is to reduce stumbling and falling risks for the lower extremity amputees.