MIT gurus developing bionic feet / ankles

Leave it to the brilliant minds at MIT's Biomechatronics Lab to crank out yet another bionic limb, as a newfangled mechanical foot / ankle combo is apparently on the minds of more than a few of its researchers. In a recent patent application, the team describes an "artificial foot and ankle joint" consisting of a "leaf spring foot member," flexible elastic ankle, and an actuator motor that applies force to the ankle. Aside from sporting a fairly intelligent system to improving one's gait, it also boasts a built-in safety feature that prevents foot rotation beyond a specified angle, and the internal sensors can also activate the motors at different intervals depending on the surface in which one is walking. The prosthetic feet join a horde of other bionic limbs and appendages meant to make life as an amputee a fair bit easier, and as terrific as this here invention sounds, we're betting the Olympic committee dashes your hopes of illegally obliterating a few running records by barring these from basic competitions.

[Via NewScientistTech]

[KYDS3K @ Apr 3rd 2007 10:18AM]

"built-in safety feature that prevents foot rotation beyond a specified angle"

why? that would be AWESOME!!! you could do some amazing kung-fu with a 360-degree rotating foot!!!

[FrankTheCrank @ Apr 3rd 2007 11:15AM]

I bet this thing isn't cheap.

War is profitable, eh?

[Matt E. @ Apr 3rd 2007 11:18AM]

Let's just hope Skynet does'nt get a hold of these bionic parts...

[andy @ Apr 3rd 2007 11:24AM]

It'll only become a great story when they sieze Heather Mills' new foot as an infringing device.


Sorry about the Dancing with the Stars reference.

[marc @ Apr 3rd 2007 12:31PM]

I think there was a recent wired article about a south african who was trying to get into the olympics even though he had to wear 2 of a similar device.

[Schaferhund @ Apr 3rd 2007 12:58PM]

Hugh Herr--the guy who patented this--is a fascinating guy. I've heard him speak several times and had the chance to meet him. He's a bilateral amputee and has constructed a range of prosthetic devices.

Definitely some of my favorite work from the MIT Media Lab folks. Really important stuff from a guy very passionate about making it.

[Schaferhund @ Apr 3rd 2007 1:04PM]

@FrankTheCrank

And no, his work is not done at the behest of war profits. But thankfully his work can help out a lot of vets serving our country.

More on Dr. Herr:
http://biomech.media.mit.edu/people/herr.htm

[Dennis Luce @ Apr 6th 2007 8:40AM]

I hope they make it water proof . . . as an amputee . . . usually the cool new stuff that is supposed to make you more active is prohibited from water immersion . . . which for me kind of defeats the purpose.

[new ankle @ May 15th 2007 7:55PM]

check out proprio foot just got one first in state nice

[new ankle @ May 16th 2007 8:55AM]

proprio foot is new and great but not water prof and you have to charge it every 2 days so far it is great mark