The British Association of Prosthetists and Orthotists (BAPO) was established to encourage high standards of prosthetic and orthotic practice. It is committed to Continued Professional Development and education to enhance standards of prosthetic and orthotic care. BAPO is the only UK body that represents the interests of prosthetic and orthotic professionals and associate members to their employers, BAPO enjoys the support of a high majority of the profession as members.
Friday, 23 August 2013
Register as a stakeholder for a Clinical Reference Group
Tuesday, 20 August 2013
Physiotherapy to Complement Orthotic Treatment
Sunday, 18 August 2013
Does excessive flatfoot deformity affect function? A comparison between symptomatic and asymptomatic flatfeet using the Oxford Foot Model
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Jonathan
Saturday, 17 August 2013
Prosthetic finger out of Bicle Parts
Friday, 16 August 2013
NICE Stroke Rehabilitation Guideline
This guideline offers evidence-based advice on the care of adults and young people aged 16 years and older who have had a stroke with continuing impairment, activity limitation or participation restriction.
NICE has published good practice guidance on patient group directions (PGDs)
The guidance has been developed to help individuals and organisations who are considering the need for, developing, authorising, using and/or updating PGDs to ensure they are appropriate, legal and that relevant governance arrangements are in place within commissioning and provider organisations.
The guidance underlines that supplying and/or administering medicines under PGD should be reserved for situations where this offers an advantage for patient care without compromising patient safety and where there are clear governance arrangements and accountability.
Thursday, 15 August 2013
Physiotherapy to Complement Orthotic Treatment Saturday 12th October 2013
Further Information
Please note that the cancellation date of this course is 2 September 2013. If you wish to book a place on the BAPO short course then please do so at your earliest convenience.
Friday, 9 August 2013
The clinical management of diabetic foot in the elderly and medico-legal implications
Sunday, 4 August 2013
The effect of removing plugs and adding arch support to foam based insoles on plantar pressures in people with diabetic peripheral neuropathy
The effect of removing plugs and adding arch support to foam based insoles on plantar pressures in people with diabetic peripheral neuropathy
effects, were not told. ... 18. Menz HB: Two feet, or one person? Problems associated with statistical
analysis of paired data in foot and ankle medicine. Foot 2004, 14(1):2–5. 19. ...
Monday, 29 July 2013
How Effective Is Orthotic Treatment in Patients with Recurrent Diabetic Foot Ulcers?
Maria Luz Gonzalez Fernandez, PhD, Rosario Morales Lozano, PhD, Maria Ignacia Gonzalez-Quijano Diaz, PhD, Maximo Antonio Gonzalez Jurado, PhD, David Martinez Hernandez, MD and Juan Vicente Beneit Montesinos, MD
Abstract
Background: We assessed the efficacy of customized foot orthotic therapy by comparing reulceration rates, minor amputation rates, and work and daily living activities before and after therapy. Peak plantar pressures and peak plantar impulses were compared with the patients not wearing and wearing their prescribed footwear.
Methods: One hundred seventeen patients with diabetes were prescribed therapeutic insoles and footwear based on the results of a detailed biomechanical study and were followed for 2 years. All of the patients had a history of foot ulcers, but none had undergone previous orthotic therapy.
Results: Before treatment, the reulceration rate was 79% and the amputation rate was 54%. Two years after the start of orthotic therapy, the reulceration rate was 15% and the amputation rate was 6%. Orthotic therapy reduced peak plantar pressures in patients with reulcerations and in those without (P < .05), although a significant decrease in peak plantar impulses was achieved only in patients not experiencing reulceration. Sick leave was reduced from 100% to 26%.
Conclusions: Personalized orthotic therapy targeted at reducing plantar pressures by off-loading protects high-risk patients against reulceration. Treatment reduced the reulceration rate and peak plantar pressures, leading to patients' return to work or other activities. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 103(4): 281-290, 2013)
Thursday, 25 July 2013
THE MANIC MARAFUN!
The Manic Marafun is a 26 mile challenge, but with a difference. Each participant only has to do one mile, or four laps of the track at the wonderful Stoke Mandeville Stadium, and to make it even more appealing, they can choose from a variety of wacky ways in which to complete it. Whether it be running, walking backwards, cycling, scooting, pushing a day chair or even doing the wheelbarrow with a friend, there are plenty of options for completing your mile and having fun while you do it!
This is a family day, and there will be a delicious BBQ and children's entertainment to ensure that everyone has a great time, whether you are the finely honed athlete about to tackle a mile of skipping, or just there to watch the antics and socialise with friends.
The Manic Marafun will be held on the 24th August and is open to everyone. To take part in the Marafun itself there is a registration fee of just £10 for adults and £1 for children, so now's the time to dream up a suitably 'Manic' way of completing your mile and sign up!
To find out more and register for this event simply visit http://www.limbpower.com/events/
Monday, 22 July 2013
Interested in £4 million?
The Health Foundation wants to make care safer by closing the gap between best practice and current delivery of care.
We have £4 million on offer to support up to nine project teams to implement and evaluate tested, evidence-based patient safety interventions at scale.
Types of project could include (but are not limited to):
- approaches to build skills in improving patient safety
- interventions to improve reliability of clinical care
- creating the conditions for the delivery of safer care.
Applicants will need to demonstrate a strong track record in designing, delivering and evaluating improvement projects.
Due to the range of skills and experience required, we anticipate applications will come from groups of organisations working together. The skills required include quality improvement, evaluation and clinical/service expertise.
Projects will also need to include an organisation that can influence wider practice and opinion.
Interested?
Applications open on 3 June 2013 and close at 12 noon on 23 September 2013.
Visit www.health.org.uk/ctgptsafety to find out more.
An Introduction to Podiatric Medicine for Healthcare Professionals Saturday 21st September 2013
For further information on the 'An Introduction to Podiatric Medicine for Healthcare Professionals' BAPO Short Course please follow the link below: Further Information |
Tuesday, 16 July 2013
AFOs Improve Balance Confidence in Poststroke Hemiplegia Patients
Friday, 12 July 2013
HCPC professional indemnity cover and registration
EU directive 2011/24/EU sets about member states being responsible for high quality care and as a result each state must have a mechanism to ensure that patients are protected from the event of harm. In the UK this will mean that all healthcare professionals will have Professional Indemnity Insurance in place by Friday 25th October 2013. Cover via an employer's indemnity arrangements is sufficient to meet requirement. NHS employees should be covered under the clinical negligence scheme (CNS). Sub contracted companies should hold sufficient arrangements. Likewise, individuals who practice independently must hold cover. The regulated professional must ensure that their indemnity arrangements in place are appropriate for the nature of their work that they undertake. Voluntary work and Good Samaritan acts are not covered by employer insurance. Healthcare professionals do not need reciprocal individual insurance. Vicarious liability is sufficient under this indemnity arrangement.
In situations were persons are seen to be working outside their perceived scope of practice, it is difficult to avoid vicarious liability unless practitioner steps outside scope in areas of clear cut situations where policies are in place.
Consultation on HCPC guidance for registrants launched on 10th June and closes on 2 August 2013 and can be found on the HCPC website. http://www.hpc-uk.org/aboutus/consultations/index.asp?id=158 Guidance will then be published in September and sets out the responsibilities of a registrant, information about professional indemnity cover, how registrants can meet the requirement and how the HCPC will check that the cover is in place. The requirement will be introduced in October 2013 and will be of a self-declaration upon renewal. The HCPC will start checking cover is in place from 1 April 2014. Failure to ensure appropriate cover is in place may mean administrative removal from the registrar or referral to fitness to practice.
If you use insurance provided through your BAPO membership, it is still up to the individual registrant to provide the HCPC with details of indemnity insurance. If you require Policy details, please contact the Secretariat. High-risk practice such as private work with sports persons or models will bring about increased risk and must be disclosed as an area of work. All disclosures must be disclosed to insurers. Area of practice is important when considering insurance and not scope of practice.
NICE has updated its guidelines on falls
Healthcare professionals should consider patients aged 65 or older, and those aged over 50 with underlying conditions such as stroke, at high risk of falling while in hospital care, according to updated guidelines from NICE.
Falling is the leading cause of injury-related admissions to hospital in those over 65, and costs the NHS an estimated £2.3 billion per year.
A number of falls occur in hospitals, with nearly 209,000 reported between 1 October and 30 September 2012.
While many who fall only experience minor cuts or bruises, over the past year 90 people died, and around 900 experienced hip fractures and head injuries as a result of falls.
NICE has updated its guidelines on falls, to help reduce the number of older people who are falling over in hospitals.
NICE says that certain groups of inpatients should be regarded as being at risk of falling in hospital. These include all patients aged 65 years or older, and those aged 50 to 64 years who are judged by a clinician to be at higher risk of falling because of an underlying condition such as dementia or stroke.
For these patients, aspects of the inpatient environment that could affect their risk of falling should be systematically identified and addressed. These include flooring, lighting, furniture and fittings such as hand holds.
Healthcare professionals should also consider a multifactorial assessment and multifactorial intervention for patients at risk of falling in hospital.
These assessments should identify a patient's individual risk factors for falling in hospital that can be treated, improved or managed during their expected stay.
Such risk factors may include cognitive impairment, continence problems, a history of falls, postural instability and visual impairment.
Healthcare professionals should ensure that any multifactorial intervention carried out should promptly address the patient's identified individual risk factors for falling in hospital, and take into account whether the risk factors can be improved managed or treated during the patient's expected stay.
Professor Mark Baker, Director of the Centre for Clinical Practice at NICE, said: "Falling over is a serious problem in hospitals, and unfortunately their likelihood increases with age as people become frailer. They can cause distress, pain, injury, a loss of confidence and independence, and in some cases, death."
He added: "While it would be virtually impossible to prevent all hospital falls from happening, our guideline calls for doctors and nurses to address the issues that will reduce the risk of their patients suffering avoidable harm. No two patients are the same and so a "one size fits all" approach will not work."
Michelle Mitchell, Director General of Age UK said: "The consequences of a fall in later life can be physically and emotionally devastating, potentially resulting in loss of mobility, independence and confidence.
"In addition to the pain caused to the individual, falls cost around £6 million a day in hospital and social care costs to treat."
He added: "Implementing these new guidelines to reduce falls in hospitals must be a priority for our health service, not only to improve patient safety, but to help save precious NHS resources."
Thursday, 11 July 2013
A kinematic description of dynamic midfoot break in children using a multi-segment foot model
Abstract
Midfoot break (MFB) is a foot deformity that occurs most commonly in children with cerebral palsy (CP), but may also affect children with other developmental disorders. Dynamic MFB develops because the muscles that cross the ankle joint are hypertonic, resulting in a breakdown and dysfunction of the bones within the foot. In turn, this creates excessive motion at the midfoot. With the resulting inefficient lever arm, the foot is then unable to push off the ground effectively, resulting in an inadequate and painful gait pattern. Currently, there is no standard quantitative method for detecting early stages of MFB, which would allow early intervention before further breakdown occurs. The first step in developing an objective tool for early MFB diagnosis is to examine the difference in dynamic function between a foot with MFB and a typical foot. Therefore, the main purpose of this study was to compare the differences in foot motion between children with MFB and children with typical feet (Controls) using a multi-segment kinematic foot model. We found that children with MFB had a significant decrease in peak ankle dorsiflexion compared to Controls (1.3±6.4° versus 8.6±3.4°) and a significant increase in peak midfoot dorsiflexion compared to Controls (15.2±4.9° versus 6.4±1.9°). This study may help clinicians track the progression of MFB and help standardize treatment recommendations for children with this type of foot deformity.
Conference 2013 Photographs
Wednesday, 10 July 2013
Short Course: Paediatric Gait Analysis and Orthotic Management: A Segmental Kinematic Approach
Paediatric Gait Analysis and Orthotic Management:
A Segmental Kinematic Approach
8th & 9th November 2013
SALTS Healthcare, Birmingham
For further information on the 'Paediatric Gait Analysis and Orthotic Managemnet: A Segmental Kinematic Approach' BAPO Short Course please follow the link below:
Further Information
Please note that the cancellation date of this course is 25th October 2013. If you wish to book a place on the BAPO short course then please do so at your earliest convenience.
Thursday, 4 July 2013
How is the new NHS structured?
Saturday, 29 June 2013
Prosthetics service for veterans launched
A NATIONAL prosthetics service has been launched for veteran military amputees.
The service will provide amputees with advanced prosthetics designed to function as much like a natural limb as possible. It will also act as a dedicated point of access to services including limb fitting and rehabilitation.
It is estimated there are about 66 military amputees in Scotland, and ministers yesterday met one of them, Steven Richardson from East Lothian.
He lost both legs and some fingers on both hands after he stood on an explosive device during a tour in the Nad-e-Ali district of Afghanistan in 2010.
Health secretary Alex Neil said: "It is only right our veterans, who have risked their lives for this country, receive world-class services through our NHS.
"Scotland is already leading the way in prosthetic care and this new specialist service is a fantastic example of the NHS using innovative technologies to deliver 21st-century healthcare."
The service has been launched by the Scottish Government following recommendations in a report by Dr Andrew Murrison on NHS prosthetics for veterans, particularly those from recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The UK government asked Dr Murrison, a Tory MP, to review prosthetic services after concerns were raised by some charities the NHS may not provide services to the same standard as the Defence Medical Service provided by the Ministry of Defence.
Ian Waller, of the British Limbless Ex-Service Men's Association, said: "We are encouraged by the clear message this sends to our members in Scotland; that their needs have been recognised, considered and are being addressed."
Source: http://www.scotsman.com/news/health/prosthetics-service-for-veterans-launched-1-2976943
Tuesday, 25 June 2013
Cost Benefit Analysis of Knee Prostheses
A study is being conducted at Imperial College Business School. The purpose of this study is to analyse the costs and benefits of different types of leg prostheses used by clients in the UK.
The survey is directed to patients who have undergone UNILATERAL ABOVE-KNEE AMPUTATION (only in one leg).
The RESULTS of this study will help provide evidence-based research to support the campaign for more funding to be made available for microprocessor knees in the UK.
The survey can be completed in 10-15 minutes and can be found on the following link https://iclbusiness.eu.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_7QdSoPKMkQkHqhD
Your response will be confidential. You will be assigned a participant number and only these numbers will appear in subsequent analyses of the data.
If you do not wish to answer a particular question please leave it blank and you can withdraw from the study at anytime.
By completing the survey, you acknowledge that you have read this information and agree to participate in this research.
Monday, 24 June 2013
An Introduction to Podiatric Medicine for Healthcare Professionals Saturday 21st September 2013
Further Information
Please note that the cancellation date of this course is 24th August 2013. If you wish to book a place on the BAPO short course then please do so at your earliest convenience.
Sunday, 23 June 2013
NHS e-Referral Service vision - making paperless referrals a reality
Tuesday, 18 June 2013
Effect of rocker shoe design features on forefoot plantar pressures in people with and without diabetes
J.D. Chapman, S. Preece, B. Braunstein, A. Höhne, C.J. Nester, P. Brueggemann, S. Hutchins
Abstract
Background
There is no consensus on the precise rocker shoe outsole design that will optimally reduce plantar pressure in people with diabetes. This study aimed to understand how peak plantar pressure is influenced by systematically varying three design features which characterise a curved rocker shoe: apex angle, apex position and rocker angle.
Methods
A total of 12 different rocker shoe designs, spanning a range of each of the three design features, were tested in 24 people with diabetes and 24 healthy participants. Each subject also wore a flexible control shoe. Peak plantar pressure, in four anatomical regions, was recorded for each of the 13 shoes during walking at a controlled speed.
Findings
There were a number of significant main effects for each of the three design features, however, the precise effect of each feature varied between the different regions. The results demonstrated maximum pressure reduction in the 2nd–4th metatarsal regions (39%) but that lower rocker angles (<20°) and anterior apex positions (>60% shoe length) should be avoided for this region. The effect of apex angle was most pronounced in the 1st metatarsophalangeal region with a clear decrease in pressure as the apex angle was increased to 100°.
Interpretation
We suggest that an outsole design with a 95° apex angle, apex position at 60% of shoe length and 20° rocker angle may achieve an optimal balance for offloading different regions of the forefoot. However, future studies incorporating additional design feature combinations, on high risk patients, are required to make definitive recommendations.
http://www.clinbiomech.com/article/S0268-0033(13)00114-9/abstract
Wednesday, 12 June 2013
Physiotherapy to Complement Orthotic Treatment Saturday 12th October 2013 Staffordshire University
Please click for Further Information on the 'Pysiotherapy to Complement Orthotic Treatment' BAPO Short Course.
Tuesday, 11 June 2013
HCPC launches consultation on guidance for professional indemnity cover and registration
News release
The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) has today launched an eight week consultation to seek the views of stakeholders on guidance for registrants in relation to professional indemnity cover and registration.
The Government are proposing that all health professionals must hold professional indemnity cover as a condition of registration. This is subject to parliamentary approval and will apply to all of the professions regulated by the HCPC with the exception of social workers in England*. This is because these 15 professions are considered to be 'healthcare professions' under the terms of the European Directive 2011/24/EU on cross-border healthcare.
We anticipate that the majority of our registrants will already be able to meet these requirements as they will be indemnified either through their employer, a professional body, directly with an insurer or a combination of these. However, it is important that registrants ensure that they have cover in place that is appropriate for their practice.
Subject to the legislative timetable, cover must be in place by Friday 25 October 2013. From 1 April 2014 new applicants to the Register and those renewing their registration will be required to complete a professional declaration. Failure to hold appropriate cover will mean an individual will not have their registration renewed or, in the case of new applicants, will not be registered by us.
Louise Hart, Director of Council and Committee Services commented;
"It is important that professionals are aware of their responsibilities to have appropriate indemnity cover and to take steps to ensure they meet this new requirement of registration.
"The draft guidance we have produced outlines what professionals need to know about their responsibilities and provides detailed information about professional indemnity, how they can meet this requirement and how the HCPC will check that cover is in place.
"We are now seeking views on this draft guidance and would welcome feedback from professionals on our Register as well as employers and other stakeholders who may be affected by this new requirement."
The consultation will run from 10 June 2013 until 2 August 2013 and can be found on the following link https://www.research.net/s/consultationonguidanceforPIIrequirement
Gene Associated With Adolescent-Onset Scoliosis Identified
Friday, 7 June 2013
The Department of Health has announced a £4m fund to improve the way diseases are diagnosed.
This money will fund research that looks at the way a number of different diseases are diagnosed, so patients can access the best available treatments more quickly.
The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) will share the funding across four NHS organisations in London, Leeds, Newcastle and Oxford. These places will become national centres of expertise called NIHR diagnostic evidence co-operatives.
These centres will promote research into medical tests used to diagnose things like cancer, liver and respiratory diseases, so patients across the NHS can benefit from advances in technology. More .....
Thursday, 6 June 2013
Specialised health services clinical reference groups: Patient and carer member recruitment – second wave
NHS England has opened the second wave of recruitment for patient and carer members of its Clinical Reference Groups for 2013/14. For a full list of CRGs who are still recruiting members please follow the link below. CRGs are responsible for providing NHS England with clinical advice regarding specialised services, and for promoting equity of access to high quality services for all patients, regardless of where they live. CRGs are also at the forefront of the drive to spearhead innovation, working with clinical leaders, patients and suppliers to identify and promote best practice; scanning the horizon for new treatment approaches; and taking action to improve patient experience and outcomes in the NHS. This is an exciting time to join a CRG, as they take their place within the new commissioning structures of the NHS. The accompanying Guide to CRGs and Information Pack for Patients and Carers will provide you with more, detailed information about their work; where they sit within NHS England, and what it means to be a patient and carer member of a CRG. If you are interested in applying to be a patient or carer member, you will also find an application form which you can complete online. The closing date for applications for membership is midnight 13 June 2013. To find out more about becoming a patient or carer member of one of these groups, where you will find the list of CRGs we are still recruiting to, a Guide to CRGs, an Information Pack and application form. This opportunity is open to people 18 years and over. We are committed to ensuring that the work of CRGs is informed by the voice of children and young people; however, we are also aware that there are extra support needs for this group and that membership of the CRGs may not be the most appropriate approach to engaging with this section of the population. They are recruiting for the following CRG's
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Friday, 31 May 2013
Dose–response effects of customised foot orthoses on lower limb kinematics and kinetics in pronated foot type
Saturday, 25 May 2013
The effectiveness of footwear as an intervention to prevent or to reduce biomechanical risk factors associated with diabetic foot ulceration: A systematic review
Saturday, 18 May 2013
Scoliosis—treatment indications according to current evidence
HR Weiss, M Moramarco
Abstract
Introduction
Long-term follow-ups of untreated patients with adolescent idiopathic
scoliosis (AIS) indicate that the consequences of AIS over a lifetime are
minimal, sometimes moderate in more severe cases, however, never
life-threatening. In light of these findings, the historical indications
for treatment should be investigated according to current evidence.
Recent reviews have been investigated for their contribution to
evidence in the field of scoliosis treatment—especially the impact of
the results obtained on the historical modes of treatment.
From these findings, we may conclude that there is promising
evidence for the application of physiotherapy in the treatment of scoliosis in children or adolescents and for adults with curvatures exceeding 35°
Cobb. There is a stronger evidence for the application of (hard) braces
during growth. There is no evidence for spinal fusion surgery for AIS. The
use of surgery should be limited in patients with scoliosis of other origin. This critical review discusses the treatment methods for scoliosis.
Conclusion
There is some evidence for the use of physiotherapy as a treatment for
scoliosis. There is strong evidence for the use of hard braces during growth.
http://www.oapublishinglondon.com/images/article/pdf/1368523536.pdf
Thursday, 9 May 2013
Foot Drop Stimulation Versus Ankle Foot Orthosis After Stroke - 30-Week Outcomes
Abstract
Background and Purpose—Drop foot after stroke may be addressed using an ankle foot orthosis (AFO) or a foot drop stimulator (FDS). The Functional Ambulation: Standard Treatment versus Electric Stimulation Therapy (FASTEST) trial was a multicenter, randomized, single-blinded trial comparing FDS and AFO for drop foot among people ≥3 months after stroke with gait speed ≤0.8 m/s.
Methods—Participants (n=197; 79 females and 118 males; 61.14±11.61 years of age; time after stroke 4.55±4.72 years) were randomized to 30 weeks of either FDS or a standard AFO. Eight dose-matched physical therapy sessions were provided to both groups during the first 6 weeks of the trial.
Results—There was significant improvement within both groups from baseline to 30 weeks in comfortable gait speed (95% confidence interval for mean change, 0.11–0.17 m/s for FDS and 0.12–0.18 m/s for AFO) and fast gait speed. However, no significant differences in gait speed were found in the between-group comparisons. Secondary outcomes (standard measures of body structure and function, activity, and participation) improved significantly in both groups, whereas user satisfaction was significantly higher in the FDS group than in the control group.
Conclusions—Using either an FDS or an AFO for 30 weeks yielded clinically and statistically significant improvements in gait speed and other functional outcomes. User satisfaction was higher in the FDS group. Although both groups did receive intervention, this large clinical trial provides evidence that FDS or AFO with initial physical therapy sessions can provide a significant and clinically meaningful benefit even years after stroke.
Sunday, 31 March 2013
A pilot study to assess the effectiveness of orthotic insoles on the reduction of plantar soft tissue strain
Clinical Biomechanics
Abstract
Background
Plantar ulcers pose a frequent serious complication in the neuropathic foot. Previous studies suggested that ulcer initiation occurs within the plantar soft tissue rather than on the plantar surface. This study investigated the effectiveness of different shaped silicone insoles on the reduction of both plantar soft tissue strain and pressure. The authors have found no previous experimental studies on the effectiveness of insole shape on reducing plantar soft tissue strain during standing.
Methods
A custom molded silicone insole which allowed passage of ultrasound to the plantar surface of the foot was prototyped for this study. Soft tissue strain was computed from soft tissue thickness measured using ultrasound in five conditions: unloaded, barefoot, wearing a prefabricated silicone insole, wearing the custom molded silicone insole alone then with a metatarsal pad. Plantar pressure was measured for the same conditions.
Findings
The custom molded insole was found to significantly reduce soft tissue strain and plantar pressure relative to both the barefoot condition and the prefabricated insole under the second and third metatarsal heads. The metatarsal pad was found to significantly reduce soft tissue strain but not significantly affect plantar pressure.
Interpretation
A custom molded silicone insole can effectively reduce both soft tissue strain and plantar pressure and is thus preferable to a prefabricated insole. It is suggested that quantifying the reduction of soft tissue strain is an essential design requirement for orthotic insoles since plantar pressure may not be a sufficient indicator of the effectiveness of an insole in preventing ulcer initiation.
Source: http://www.clinbiomech.com/article/S0268-0033(12)00222-7/abstract
Thursday, 21 March 2013
Brain implant points to advanced prosthetics
A compact, self-contained sensor recorded and transmitted brain activity data wirelessly for more than a year in early stage animal tests, according to a study funded by the US National Institutes of Health.
In addition to allowing for more natural studies of brain activity in moving subjects, this implantable device is claimed to represent a potential major step toward cord-free control of advanced prosthetics that move with the power of thought. The report is in the April 2013 issue of the Journal of Neural Engineering.
For people who have sustained paralysis or limb amputation, rehabilitation can be slow and frustrating because they have to learn a new way of doing things that the rest of us do without actively thinking about it,' said Grace Peng, Ph.D., who oversees the Rehabilitation Engineering Program of the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB), part of NIH. 'Brain-computer interfaces harness existing brain circuitry, which may offer a more intuitive rehab experience, and ultimately, a better quality of life for people who have already faced serious challenges.'
Wednesday, 20 March 2013
Drainpipe prosthetics in war torn Syria
Mr Qurashi Credit: Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust
A doctor from Dudley has returned from Syria where he has been fitting prosthetic limbs made from drainpipes to war victims.
Mr Qurashi, who works at Russells Hall Hospital, occupied a makeshift clinic and workshop helping men, women and children who lost limbs during the two-year war that has so far claimed thousands of lives.
A Turkish businessman has donated the drainpipes which are melted down at high heat in an oven and moulded against a plaster cast of the amputated leg. They are then fitted into place with metal pins and leather straps.
The artificial feet are made from recycled rubber.