Who uses COPE's
services?
Last year we made and fitted 1,264 orthotic/prosthetic devices and 400 wheelchairs/tricycles.
The rehabilitation centres we support treated many adults and children in the rehabilitation
centres.
Unexploded Ordnance
Around 40% of our patients use our service because they have been injured by unexploded
ordnance (UXO). It is still a significant problem in many villages - children and people trying
to make a living from collecting scrap metal are particularly at risk. Many of the areas are
remote and getting proper medical attention is difficult. Corrective surgery is occasionally
required and can be carried out at the COPE centres. With a prosthesis many people are
able to return to their farming or other methods of supporting their family. The group of
people in the photo were brought to our centre by a PCL a UXO clearance company. We try
to inform as many other organisations as possible about our service so that people will know
that these devices are available and free if they cannot afford to pay.
Leprosy
People can be affected by leprosy in different ways and there is still a lot of
misunderstanding and stigma around this disease. Monty is a good example of
what can be achieved. He was born in Sam Neua which is in North Eastern Laos.
He lost his leg due to leprosy and has learned to manage well with a prosthetic leg.
He also has significant problems with his hands and uses a tricycle to get around
for longer distances. He is currently studying in his high school with dreams of
being a teacher.
Trauma
The rate of industrial and traffic accidents is on the rise in Laos. We support the
rehabilitation of people with problems such as spinal injury, complex orthopædi
problems, head injury and amputations. COPE also supports the development of
rehabilitation services for people following stroke and other medical problems.
Club foot
Club foot is an easily treated condition if seen early enough in the child's life, but
when not treated is a common cause of mobility impairment in Laos. We have
developed good links with local hospitals and now we see many babies that we
can successfully treat. Extra training has been provided by Feet First so that local
staff are able to treat this problem effectively.
Children with disabilities
COPE also supports the rehabilitation service for Children with disabilities in
partnership with World Vision and the rehabilitation centres. We see many child
cerebral palsy and other problems. COPE provides equipment for rehabilitation a
support and training of staff to help children reach their potential.
Polio
Although Laos was declared Polio free in 2002 there are still many people living with
the effects of polio. Orthoses (supportive devices) can assist people with their mobility
and reduce the chance of deformities occurring which can be painful and make daily
life more difficult. Tricycles can be provided where appropraite and can mean someone
is able to travel for study or to work.
How do you make a prosthetic?
When someone comes to any of our 5 centres, they will first be assessed by our
multidisciplinary team. Once the evaluation is completed, a decision will be made about the
most effective course of action. This might include physiotherapy, surgery, a prosthetic
device, or a combination of all three!
If the patient requires any surgery, such as to make the
stump suitable for a prosthesis, or to release contracted
muscles prior to having an orthosis made, COPE will
organize the operation and cover the cost. If further
information is required to make the right decision, we
will liaise with other organizations. Obviously, every
patient poses an entirely new set of difficulties.
Very often, when patients arrive for an assessment they have
made an attempt to build their own prosthic. These crudely made
substitutes can be made from a number of materials including
parts of the ordinance that exploded causing the amputation!
We supply several different types of prostheses, depending on
which body part is missing, however, the most common is a
below knee prosthesis. Needless to say, upon arriving our patients
are very happy to find that legs can be specifically made to fit
them!
All the prosthetics manufactured by COPE are custom made for the individual in a technical
process that requires a tremendous amount of training. Many of our staff have traveled
abroad in order to learn their specialized skills.
The building of a prosthesis, or “resdidual limb”, is a time intensive and complex multistepped process that involves measuring, injection molding, casting, fitting and making
precision adjustments. Each person walks slightly differently so fine-tuning is crucial to make
sure the prosthetic limb does not cause any damage to other joints, such as the knee (for a
below knee amputee), hip or back.
Once the prosthetist/orthotist is happy with the fit and the
alignment of the device process has only begun, next is training
the patient for adaptation which usually takes a minimum of
three weeks to a month. The training and rehabilitation is
finished when the patient can complete and on-site obstacle
course which includes stairs, ramps, gravel, and even a
suspended bridge!
Feet are also made in our rehabilitation centre in
Vientiane, by compressing rubber in a press and
then heating it up to vulcanise it The piece which
joins the foot to the prosthesis is known as the keel,
which is also made from recycled polypropylene
left over from the manufacturing process..
What do we make?
Orthotic devices tend to be a little more complex, in that each patient who presents has a
different diagnosis and hence different requirement from the device. This is distinct from
prostheses: each below knee amputee receives basically the same thing, custom-made and
adjusted to their way of walking. But if two people come in with weak leg muscles, they will
not necessarily both receive the same kind of leg brace!
Orthoses are made in pretty much the same way as prostheses, by taking a cast of the
affected body part, be it arm, neck, back, leg or foot and then rectifying the cast to get a good
fit or correction of a deformity as required.
Orthoses, however, are made in
pretty much the same way as
prostheses, by taking a cast of
the affected body part, be it
arm, neck, back, leg or foot and
then rectifying the cast to get a
good fit or correction of a
deformity as required.
We also make custom
insoles to accommodate
deformed feet or to spread
the body weight over the
whole of the sole of the
foot to avoid high
pressure areas.
People who have been affected by leprosy, are often left without feeling in their feet which is
particularly dangerous if, for example, they get a stone in their shoe. They will not know and
will keep walking until they have worn a hole in their skin, and this can lead to an infection
which will take a long time to heal. If the wound is not allowed to heal - difficult when you
have to plant your rice and you feel no pain in the foot - the infection can spread and end up
requiring amputation. For this reason education is also very important for these patients.
What other devices does COPE make?
We make other equipment like standing frames and walking aids.
Standing frame
Walking frame
Walking Frame
We are developing other items to improve independence; the picture in the above right is our
new model of chair for children with cerebral palsy developed by our technicians in Luang
Prabang.
We manufacture wheelchairs as well....
The wheelchair project is currently run by AAR, but is part of COPE. Our local staff have
been trained in assessment and prescription skills and we have an onsite production facility
as a part of our rehabilitation center in Vientiane where AAR (Japan) are working to design
and build suitable wheelchsirs and tricycles.
All the manufacturing resources are bought locally where available and the workshop
employees learn valuable skills while receiving a working wage. In common with the rest of
COPE people with disabilities are especially iinvited to apply for work and training
opportunities. Currently 400 devices a year are produced and distributed through the
provincial rehabilitation centers.
COPE creations
At COPE we design and manufacture prostetic arms, hands, and legs
as well as orthotics.
Please CLICK on the pictures and take a few moments to explore the
complex processes involved with our manufacturing. Everything is made
in our Vientiane Rehabilitation Center and we train and employ our
patients giving them a steady income and well as a valuable skill.
Creating a prosthetic.
Orthotics, walkers and
wheelchairs.
Award Prosthetics is a full service prosthetic facility for all amputees and anyone who requires the
use of crutches.
Award Prosthetics specializes in high level lower extremity prosthesis fittings, like very short
Above Knee, Hip Disarticulation and Hemipelvectomy prostheses.
Award Prosthetics is also keeping up with technololgy. We use silicone liners, flexible sockets
and super flexible acrylic resins to form-fit the amputee exactly and comfortably. We use current,
state of the art technology, such as the C-Leg knee unit pictured above.
Physiotherapy and gait-training is provided as well as accommodation at the Accent Inn Hotelnext
door to our modern laboratory.
We believe in the principle of the informed consumer. Too often a prosthetic lab will leave you
sitting in a room without even seeing another amputee.
We offer a facility that is oriented to all the needs of the amputee. As a client of Award Prosthetics
you are part of the solution, not a part of the problem.
Over 34 Years experience in creating prosthetic solutions!
Helping you feel confident and comfortable with your prosthetic choice is part
of the process. We encourage you to take an active role in the development of your prosthesis
together with the option of communicating with other amputees.
Award Prosthetics is certified by the Canadian Association of Prosthetists and Orthotists.
A Note to Our Customers and Clients
Due to technical (computer) difficulties we have been experiencing some delays in processing
orders. Fax service is temporarily off line, please email or phone in any inquiries or orders not
being processed through the web store.
Email: crutches@awardprosthetics.com
Phone: 877.Limbs4U (877.546.2748) or 604.298.0236.
We appreciate your understanding and continued patience with us as we experience these
difficulties.
About our Crutch Store
Crutches are not just an extra appendage
anymore. Newergonomic and anatomical designs, lightweight materials, colors, crutch tips and
grips, and more have made crutches more user friendly, functional and convenient.
We currently feature Folding Forearm Crutches, Rebotec Travel Crutches, Millennial Folding
Underarm Crutches,Kowsky Crutches, Children's Crutches, and a line of Amputee Skin Care and
Sweat Control Products. To visit our Crutch Store, click here.
Contact Us
For any enquiries regarding Award Prosthetics and other technical questions, please call
us at:
Toll Free: 1-877-LIMBS4U (546-2748)
Tel: (604) 298-0236
Fax: (604) 298-0254
Please note: Our business hours are Monday to Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm Pacific Standard
Time.
By Appointment Only - No Drop Ins
If you live locally and wish to come and see us in person, please phone ahead or email for an
appointment to ensure someone is available to see you.
Email: info@awardprosthetics.com
Website: http://www.awardprosthetics.com
Inquiry Form: Please Click Here for our Inquiry Form.
You can also contact Award Prosthetics through their mailing address:
Prosthetic Limbs That Can Feel
A new surgical method is the first step in making prostheses
with sensory capabilities.
ntists have made enormous advances in limb prostheses, these devices still lack a
sense of touch. Now, scientists from Northwestern University, in Chicago, have
shown that transplanting the nerves from an amputated hand to the chest allows
patients to feel hand sensation there. The findings are the first step toward
prosthetic arms with sensors on the fingers--now under development--that will
transfer tactile information from the device to the chest, making the wearer feel as
though he or she has a real hand.
Touchy-feely: Todd Kuiken (shown
above, with one of his patients) is
pioneering development of new surgical
procedures to allow amputees to intuitively
control artificial limbs. The patient, who
had sensory and motor nerves from his
amputated hand transplanted to his chest,
can control the prosthesis by thinking
about moving his nonexistent hand, which
triggers muscle contractions in his chest.
He can also sense parts of his hand when
his chest is touched--a capacity that
Kuiken and his collaborators plan to
capitalize on in order to develop new
prostheses that can feel.
Credit: Courtesy of the Rehabilitation
Institute of Chicago
Currently, patients operate their prostheses through visual feedback: they know that
they've touched a cup when they see the arm hit it. Without sensory information, it's
difficult for patients to determine if they are grasping the cup strongly enough to
hold it without breaking it. "Sensation is a big missing piece of current prosthetics,"
says Robert Kirsch, associate director of the Functional Electrical Stimulation Center
at Louis Stokes Veterans Affairs Medical Center, in Cleveland. "If this can provide a
path to do that, it's a big step."
Earlier this year, the Northwestern researchers, Todd Kuiken and his colleagues at
the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, showed that a similar nerve-transplant
approach could be used to intuitively control movement of a prosthetic arm. (See "A
Prosthetic Arm That Acts Like a Real One.") Motor nerves, which relay motor signals
from the brain to the muscles, were transplanted from the stump of the lost arm to
the chest. When the patient thought about moving his hand, his chest muscle
twitched. Those muscle contractions were used to control movement of a motorized
elbow, wrist, and hand.
In the new study, the researchers took the nerves that would normally carry sensory
messages from the hand to the brain and implanted them into a patch of skin on the
patient's chest. After allowing the nerves to grow for several months, Kuiken and his
colleagues tested the sensory abilities of two amputees. "They can feel very light
touches and can feel hot and cold, just like in the missing hand," says Kuiken, who
led the new work. The findings were published today in the Proceedings of the
National Academy of Sciences.
Both patients could tell the difference between different grades of sandpaper rubbed
against their skin. But they each developed very different senses of touch. For one
patient, the sense was very broad: touching a large patch of skin on the chest
sparked the perception of sensation in three fingers at the same time. The second
patient had a more refined sensory map. She felt sensation in different fingers linked
to different spots on her chest, as well as other odd sensations, such as the feeling of
skin being stretched or a finger being pushed back.
In both cases, the new sensory maps on the chest appear to be randomly organized,
rather than reflective of the topography of the hand. For example, the patch of skin
linked to the middle finger is not located next to the patch of skin linked to the ring
finger. "It will take time to figure out the mechanisms that guide reinnervation, as
well as if we can direct it to get more-refined results for patients," says Kuiken. "The
brain may reorganize itself to take advantage of the information given to it."
The researchers, along with collaborators from different institutions, are now
developing new components to add to prosthetic arms that will allow them to sense
the environment and transfer those signals to the wearer's chest. That task is likely
to be difficult: the device will need to be wearable with the prosthesis and precisely
stimulate different parts of the chest.
"Our hands are incredible instruments that can feel things with exquisitely light touch
and incredible resolution; to emulate that through a device is incredibly challenging,"
says Kuiken. "All we're giving our patients is a rough approximation, but something
is better than nothing."
Prosthesis
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Prosthetics)
For other uses, see Prosthesis (disambiguation).
A United States Army soldier plays table football with two prosthetic arms
In medicine, a prosthesis (plural prostheses) (from Greek πρόσθεσις) is an artificial extension that
replaces a missing body part. It is part of the field of biomechatronics, the science of fusing mechanical
devices with human muscle, skeleton, and nervous systems to assist or enhance motor control lost by
trauma, disease, or defect. Prostheses are typically used to replace parts lost by injury (traumatic) or
missing from birth (congenital) or to supplement defective body parts. Inside the body, artificial heart
valves are in common use with artificial hearts and lungs seeing less common use but under active
technology development. Other medical devices and aids that can be considered prosthetics
include artificial eyes, palatal obturator, gastric bands, and dentures.
Contents
[hide]

1 History

2 Lower Extremity Prosthetics
o
2.1 Lower Extremity Modern History

3 Robotic prostheses

4 Cosmesis

5 Cognition

6 Prosthetic enhancement

7 See also

8 References

9 External links
[edit]History
The ancient Egyptians of theThird Intermediate Period developed this wood and leather prosthetic toe to facilitate an
amputee's ability to walk
Rudimentary prostheses have been used since antiquity, to replace missing limbs, teeth, etc.; their use and
sophistication has increased over time.
A famous and quite refined[1] historical prosthetic arm was that of Götz von Berlichingen, made in the
beginning of the 16th century. Prosthetics help people world wide, and alot of losers have them
[edit]Lower
Extremity Prosthetics
Lower extremity prosthetics describes artificially replaced limbs located at the hip level or lower. The two
main subcategories of lower extremity prosthetic devices are 1.trans-tibial (any amputation transecting the
tibia bone or a congenital anomaly resulting in a tibial deficiency) and 2.trans-femural (any amputation
transecting the femur bone or a congenital anomaly resulting in a femural deficiency). In the prosthetic
industry a trans-tibial prosthetic leg is often referred to as a "BK" or below the knee prosthesis while the
trans-femural prosthetic leg is often referred to as an "AK" or above the knee prosthesis.
Other, less prevalent lower extremity cases include the following:
1. Hip disarticulations - This usually refers to when an amputee or congenitally challenged patient has a
either an amputation or anomaly at or in close proximity to the hip joint.
2. Knee disarticulations - This usually refers to an amputation through the knee disarticulating the femur
from the tibia.
3. Symes - This is an ankle disarticulation while preserving the heel pad.
[edit]Lower
Extremity Modern History
Socket technology for lower extremity limbs saw a revolution of advancement during the 1980's
when Sabolich Prosthetics, John Sabolich C.P.O., invented the CATCAM socket, later to evolve into the
Sabolich Socket. The advancement was due to the difference in the socket to patient contact model. Prior,
sockets were made in the shape of a square bucket with no specialized containment for either the patient's
bony prominences' or muscular tissue. Sabolich's design held the patient's limb like a glove, locking it into
place and distributing the weight evenly over the existing limb as well as the bone structure of the patient.
This was the first instance of ischial containment and led to an extreme advancement in patient
accomplishment. Because of Sabolich's dedication to research and development in lower extremity
prosthetics, Sabolich Prosthetics saw the first above the knee prosthetic patients walk and run step over step
with both one leg and two legs missing, walking down stairs, suction sockets, modern plastic and bio
elastic sockets, sense of feel technology, and numerous other inventions in the prosthetic field. well their
was this man n he is a gay fagget LOL suck my
[edit]Robotic
prostheses
Further information: Robotics#Touch
In order for a robotic prosthetic limb to work, it must have several components to integrate it into the
body's function: Biosensors detect signals from the user's nervous or muscular systems. It then relays this
information to a controller located inside the device, and processes feedback from the limb and actuator
(e.g., position, force) and sends it to the controller. Examples include wires that detect electrical activity on
the skin, needle electrodes implanted in muscle, or solid-state electrode arrays with nerves growing through
them. One type of these biosensors are employed in myoelectric prosthesis.
Mechanical sensors process aspects affecting the device (e.g., limb position, applied force, load) and relay
this information to the biosensor or controller. Examples include force meters and accelerometers.
The controller is connected to the user's nerve and muscular systems and the device itself. It sends intention
commands from the user to the actuators of the device, and interprets feedback from the mechanical and
biosensors to the user. The controller is also responsible for the monitoring and control of the movements
of the device.
An actuator mimics the actions of a muscle in producing force and movement. Examples include a motor
that aids or replaces original muscle tissue
[edit]Cosmesis
With advances in modern technology, cosmesis, the creation of lifelike limbs made
from silicone or PVC has been made possible. Such prosthetics, such as artificial hands, can now be made
to mimic the appearance of real hands, complete with freckles, veins, hair, fingerprints and even tattoos.
Custom-made cosmeses are generally more expensive (costing thousands of US dollars, depending on the
level of detail), while standard cosmeses come ready-made in various sizes, although they are often not as
realistic as their custom-made counterparts. Another option is the custom-made silicone cover, which can
be made to match a person's skin tone but not details such as freckles or wrinkles. Cosmeses are attached to
the body in any number of ways, using an adhesive, suction, form-fitting, stretchable skin, or a skin sleeve.
[edit]Cognition
Main article: Neuroprosthetics
Unlike neuromotor prostheses, neurocognitive
prostheses would sense or modulate neural function in order to physically reconstitute or augment
cognitive processes such as executive function, attention, language, and memory. No neurocognitive
prostheses are currently available but the development of implantable neurocognitive brain-computer
interfaces has been proposed to help treat conditions such asstroke, traumatic brain injury, cerebral
palsy, autism, and Alzheimer's disease.[2] The recent field of Assistive Technology for Cognitionconcerns
the development of technologies to augment human cognition. Scheduling devices such
as Neuropage remind users with memory impairments when to perform certain activities, such as visiting
the doctor. Micro-prompting devices such as PEAT, AbleLink and Guidehave been used to aid users with
memory and executive function problems perform activities of daily living.
[edit]Prosthetic
enhancement
Further information: Powered exoskeleton#Research
In addition to the standard artificial limb for everyday use, many amputees or congenital patients have
special limbs and devices to aid in the participation of sports and recreational activities.
In 2008, Oscar Pistorius was briefly ruled ineligible for the 2008 Summer Olympics due to an alleged mechanical
advantage over runners who have ankles.
Within science fiction, and, more recently, within the scientific community, there has been consideration
given to using advanced prostheses to replace healthy body parts with artificial mechanisms and systems to
improve function. The morality and desirability of such technologies are being debated. Body parts such as
legs, arms, hands, feet, and others can be replaced.
The first experiment with a healthy individual appears to have been that by the British scientist Kevin
Warwick. In 2002, an implant was interfaced directly into Warwick's nervous system. The electrode array,
which contained around a hundred electrodes, was placed in the median nerve. The signals produced were
detailed enough that a robot arm was able to mimic the actions of Warwick's own arm and provide a form
of touch feedback again via the implant.[3]
In early 2008, Oscar Pistorius, the "Blade Runner" of South Africa, was briefly ruled ineligible to compete
in the 2008 Summer Olympics because his prosthetic limbs were said to give him an unfair advantage over
runners who had ankles. One researcher found that his limbs used twenty-five percent less energy than
those of an able-bodied runner moving at the same speed. This ruling was overturned on appeal, with the
appellate court stating that the overall set of advantages and disadvantages of Pistorius' limbs had not been
considered. Pistorius did not qualify for the South African team for the Olympics, but went on to sweep
the 2008 Summer Paralympics, and has been ruled eligible to qualify for any future Olympics.
[edit]See
also

Prosthetist

Amputation

Anaplastology

Artificial organ

Artificial knee

Naturoid

Machine
[edit]References
1. ^ The Iron Hand of the Goetz von Berlichingen
2. ^ Serruya MD, Kahana MJ (2008). "Techniques and devices to restore cognition". Behav Brain Res 192:
149. doi:10.1016/j.bbr.2008.04.007. PMID 18539345.
3. ^ Warwick,K, Gasson,M, Hutt,B, Goodhew,I, Kyberd,P, Andrews,B, Teddy,P and Shad,A. “The Application
of Implant Technology for Cybernetic Systems”,Archives of Neurology, 60(10), pp1369-1373, 2003
[edit]External
links
Look
up prosthesis inWiktionary,
the free dictionary.

National Amputee Centre — Information about artificial limbs

O&PCare has a complete glossary relating to the field of prosthetics
Prosthetics
When someone comes to any of our 5 centers, they will first be assessed by our
multidisciplinary team. Once the evaluation is completed, a decision will be made about the
most effective course of action. This might include physiotherapy, surgery, a prosthetic
device, or a combination of all three!
If you're fortunate enough have all of your arms and legs, chances are that you
take them for granted. The human body is a remarkable piece of biological
machinery, and your limbs are no exception. For example, consider the delicate
and complex tasks hands can perform, such as writing in calligraphy or playing
the violin. At the same time, hands have the strength and durability required to
grip heavy objects and withstand impacts. Legs are equally impressive, enabling
a person to run long distances without tiring and navigate across uncertain
terrains.
When someone loses a limb due to injury or disease, the rich functionality once offered
by that limb is lost as well. An upper extremity amputation, involving the loss of all or
part of an arm, might mean the loss of the ability to perform job skills or normal activities
of daily living. For a lower extremity amputee, someone missing portions of one or more
legs, this could mean the loss of the ability to walk or run.
Very often, when patients arrive for an assessment they have made an attempt to build
their own prosthic. These crudely made substitutes can be made from a number of
materials including parts of the ordinance that exploded causing the amputation.
We supply several different types of prostheses, depending on which body part is
missing, however, the most common is a below knee prosthesis. Needless to say, upon
arrive our patients are very happy to find that legs can be specifically made to fit them.
Feet are also made in our rehabilitation centre in Vientiane, by compressing rubber in a
press and then heating it up to vulcanise it The piece which joins the foot to the prosthesis
is known as the keel, which is also made from recycled polypropylene left over from the
manufacturing process.
Orthotic devices tend to be a little more complex, in that each patient who presents has a
different diagnosis and hence different requirement from the device. This is distinct from
prostheses: each below knee amputee receives basically the same thing, custom-made and
adjusted to their way of walking. But if two people come in with weak leg muscles, they
will not necessarily both receive the same kind of leg brace.
How is prosthesis made?
Prosthesis is fabricated from an impression cast taken from the residual finger or limb
and the corresponding part on the undamaged hand. Through this process, an exact match
to the details of the entire hand can be achieved. The prosthetic finger or hand is
fabricated out of a flexible, transparent silicone rubber. Colors dispersed in the silicone
are carefully matched to the individual’s skin tones, which give the prosthesis the life-like
look and texture of real skin. The finger or hand is usually held on by suction. The
flexibility of the silicone permits good range of motion of the remaining body parts.
Fingernails can be individually colored before applying them to the fingers so they can be
matched almost perfectly. The nails can be polished with any nail polish and the polish
can be removed with a gentle-action nail polish remover. Silicones are resistant to
staining. Inks wash off easily with alcohol or soap and warm water. With proper care a
silicone prosthesis may last 3-5 years. Creation of your prosthesis usually begins three
months after you are completely healed from surgery. This waiting period allows time for
swelling to subside and for the remainder of your hand to take its final shape. You may
need therapy to learn to use your new prosthesis.