A new high tech knee promises to deliver better movement and give its wearers–often veterans who have lost legs in combat or patients battling severe cases of diabetes–more movement and control. The prosthetic knee, called the X2, comes with sensors, a gyroscope, and a number of microprocessors to give amputees more range of motion, aiding them in descending hills, walking up stairs, and navigating their environments with more even weight distribution on both their natural leg and the prosthetic leg. In addition to the tech advances provided by the X2, the prosthesis is also lighter, smaller, and provide longer battery life than other models on the market.
Often, patients with prosthetic leg shift their weight to their natural leg so that they don’t fall or topple. Because of this, one army veteran says that “My good side is no longer my good side,” noting that the uneven distribution of weight to the non-amputated side has taken a toll on his hips, back, and knee. With the X2, he has learned to re-distribute his weight more evenly and is more confident about placing his weight on the prosthetic.
The knee would cost the veterans department $30,000 each, a $10,000 premium over other prosthetics. The department hopes to buy 200 X2 units in the coming year and anticipates long waiting lists. The new knee should allow users to have more natural movement with their legs.
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