From the ArcaMax Publishing, Health & Fitness Newsletter:
http://www.arcamax.com/news/healthtips/s-189254-286892
MESA, Ariz. (UPI) -- U.S. researchers are creating a first-of-its-kind
smart, next generation of powered prosthetic devices based on
lightweight energy-storing springs.
Arizona State University's Polytechnic campus and the Military Amputee
Research Program at Walter Reed Army Medical Center have teamed up to
produce the device, nicknamed SPARKy -- for Spring Ankle with
Regenerative Kinetics -- which is expected to provide enhanced ankle
motion and push-off power comparable to the gait of an able-bodied
individual.
"A gait cycle describes the natural motion of walking starting with
the heel strike of one foot and ending with the heel strike of the
same foot," Thomas Sugar of Arizona State University's Polytechnic
said in a statement.
"The cycle can be split into two phases -- stance and swing. We are
concerned with storing energy and releasing energy -- regenerative
kinetics -- in the stance phase."