The space-age looking knee may look like something out of the Bionic Man television show but the truth is you won’t be able to leap tall buildings with it.

You will, however, be able to walk with much more stability and confidence. That in itself is a major improvement for many amputees who are seeking unparalleled reliability.

Since 1997, more than 13,000 users worldwide have taken advantage of the monumental leap in technology the C-Leg offers. Developed by Otto Brock Corp. of Minneapolis, Minnesota, people can now move freely in everyday situations without having to consider each step or worrying about falling. The microprocessor-controlled knee is designed to deliver the best in stability and reliability. Carolyn Batte, who lost her left leg in a motorcycle accident a little over a year ago, has been very impressed.

“The therapy to get used to the knee has been very smooth and I’m surprised at how well everything has been working out,” said Batte, of Laurel. “The technology is just incredible.”

Brad and Jennifer Kennedy are very familiar with the knee. The couple, who have been married just over a year, are both amputees themselves. Brad Kennedy is the clinical manager at Methodist Orthotics and Prosthetics in Meridian while Jennifer Kennedy is a physical therapist at the facility and at Rush Foundation Hospital.

Ever the adventurer, Brad Kennedy took his C-Leg for a test drive in the summer of 2005 when he biked across Europe. He said



it worked wonderfully.

“My other leg and my butt got tired but the C-Leg was great,” Brad Kennedy said laughing. “I rode from Scotland to Italy and it never once gave me a problem.”

The secret to the C-Leg knee is the microprocessor inside. It makes 50 corrections per second to allow for more or less resistance on the knee when needed. Simply put, the knee adjusts with little hydraulic pistons and motors whenever a user walks fast or slows down. Much like the brain that maintains thousands of bodily functions in a second, the C-Leg measures and monitors the action, motion and resistance needed to provide a stable platform in which to walk, run, play golf, ride bikes and so forth. It is a revolutionary design.

“This is good news to the soldiers coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan who have lost a leg,” said Jennifer Kennedy. “I think most people will be surprised at the mobility they will have with this prosthetic.”

“We’ve designed our software to determine the best resistance and setting,” said Patrick Prigge, a representative with Otto Bock. “The software considers the real-time sensor data to establish which phase of gait the user is in…and algorithms based on thousands of gait cycles are built into our software. This gives optimal response during swing phase. Not a step early, not a step late.”

Because there is a mini-computer in the knee, it does need to be recharged at night. It also comes with a remote control and a plug in to use in the car. The jokes could be endless and although Brad and Jennifer Kennedy have heard them all, they are both convinced this new technology is the way of the future. But is it bionics?

“No,” said Prigge smiling. “We don’t provide added strength with the knee. It is stability amputees are really looking for.”