Lauren McDonough BME 281 Short Presentation November 28, 2012

Lauren McDonoughBME 281 Short Presentation

November 28, 2012

What is The Cheetah Flex Foot?A prosthetic limb for

lower leg amputeesAmputations below

the kneeCan be altered for use

by some above the knee amputees

Designed for use by athletesSpecifically runners

Is currently used by many professional, Olympic, and Paralympic athletes

A Brief History Designed by Van L.

Phillips He gained interest in

created a prosthetic for athletes after loosing his foot in a water skiing accident

Developed in 1997Has not undergone

many major changes since

The current product is produced by Ossur, a company out of Iceland

The DesignDesigned to mimic the

function and reaction of a normal foot and ankle

Made of carbon fiber Has the shape of a “J”There is a socket to attach

the prosthetic to the remaining part of the leg

“When weight [is] applied by landing on the heel, it [is] converted into energy that literally put[s] spring into the step, simulating the spring action of the normal foot and allowing the wearer to run and jump.” (Bio Medicine)

Advantages Allows amputee

athletes to continue to fully participate in the sports they love

Is able to very closely mimic the normal functions of a foot and ankle

Is durableIs light weight,

made of carbon fiber

Disadvantages The controversy

surrounding weather the use of The Cheetah Flex Foot gives athletes an unfair advantage over able bodied athletes In 2008 the Court for

Arbitration of Sport (CAS) determined that the use of prosthetic limbs in international competition was permitted

Extensive studies scientifically proved that athletes gain no unfair advantage from the use of the limb

FutureTechnology used to

create prosthetics for use in other sports

Technology used to create a prosthetic limb for use in sporting activities by above the knee amputee’s

Works Cited “Disabled Athletes in Olympic Games”. Web. 25 Nov.

2012. <http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/more.php?news_id=140076>.

"Inventor of Ossur's Flex-foot Nominated for European Inventor of the Year 2008." Inventor of Ossur's Flex-foot Nominated for European Inventor of the Year 2008. Web. 25 Nov. 2012. <http://news.bio-medicine.org/?q=medicine-news-1/inventor-of-ossurs-flex-foot-nominated-for-european-inventor-of-the-year-2008-17044>.

“Ossur Flex-Foot Cheetah." Oscar-pistorius. Web. 25 Nov. 2012. <http://www.oscarpistorius.com/about/oessur-flex-foot-cheetah>.

"Cheetah”. Cheetah. Web. 25 Nov. 2012. <http://www.ossur.com/?PageID=13462>.

Photo Works Cited http://money.cnn.com/gallery/technology/201

2/09/07/9-superhuman-prosthetic-innovations.fortune/index.html

http://www.core77.com/gallery/superhuman/26.asp