AMHERST — The Mechatronics and Robotics Research Laboratory at the University of Massachusetts Amherst is seeking people with below-knee amputation to test a new prototype prosthetic ankle.
Eligible candidates are men or women between 18 and 69 years old with a below-knee amputation who use a foot or ankle prosthesis daily. They should be between 5 feet and 6 feet, four inches tall and weigh between 90 and 220 pounds.
Participants will spend a total of about two hours in the Biomechanics Lab on the UMass Amherst campus and will be asked to wear motion sensors on their body while wearing their normal prosthesis and walking, standing and sitting, then wearing the lab’s new prototype prosthesis while performing those same normal tasks. Participants will be paid $25 per actual test session, which lasts for 30-60 minutes after setup.
Doctoral candidate Andrew LaPre says, “We are developing new types of adaptive robotic prostheses designed to reduce loading conditions on the limb for a more comfortable and efficient stride.” This work is supported by the National Science Foundation.
Lapre can be reached at alapree@umass.edu or 413-577-2294.