August 2009

Ability Prosthetics & Orthotics, Inc. recently held electronic-stance-phase-controlled-technology workshops across all four of its patient care centers. The workshops, held in partnership with Otto Bock Healthcare, showcased revolutionary electronic knee joint technology that is now available to millions of patients who currently wear “locked” long leg braces and walk with a stiff leg as a result of partial leg paralysis.

Across the four centers, located in Gettysburg, Exton, Hagerstown and Frederick, over fifty healthcare providers, including physicians, physical therapists and orthotists, assembled to learn more about the advanced technology and to evaluate patients who could potentially receive braces with these revolutionary knee joints.

The knee joint technology, which has been developed by Otto Bock Healthcare, includes the SensorWalk and the E-MAG Active. These “smart” joints are used on “long leg braces” or knee-ankle-foot-orthoses (KAFO’s). The intelligent sensor system measures the position of the leg during walking, allowing the patient to bend the knee during swing phase and to lock the limb or brace during stance phase. These functions add stability and safety for a smoother, balanced and more natural walking style.

“We have quickly become a leading provider of the E-MAG Active leg brace in the country and so far the technology has proven successful,” explains Jeffrey Brandt, CPO & CEO of Ability Prosthetics & Orthotics, Inc., “This Technology is giving patients and practitioners more options than ever when it comes to optimizing and customizing their braces. Braces are becoming smarter and are now able to calibrate themselves to how the patient walks while simultaneously providing stability and safety. This is only the beginning.”