Summer Meeting with Dave Foye

Notes from meeting with Dave Foye

Date: 7.27.18

Time: 9:00-11:30 AM

Location: Logan HS

Project Team Members: Dave Foye & Mr. Johnston

Invention statement: Design an improved charging and use management system for an artificial lower leg.

Components:

a)     Software-design energy use software to show user how much energy they have in their artificial limb to do certain activities.

b)     Management block- coordinates with existing “Smart Puck” and interfaces to it. Manages voltages differences, interface needs and implements special charging cycles.

c)     Energy Storage- This provides a “bridge” to the management block. Stores energy generated from Harvesting Block.

d)     Energy Harvesting- converts kinetic energy produced during limb use into sustainable energy using piezoelectric or electro mechanical technologies.

e)     Testing/demonstration system- creates a test mechanism to simulate the movement and heel strike of an artificial leg so a human subject does not have to be used.

Notes from Phone Call #2 with 5280 Prosthetic’s staff

Notes from Phone Call #2 with 5280 Prosthetic’s staff
Date: 7.24.18
Time: 11-11:30 AM
Location:  5280 Prosthetics LLC, 1501 West Campus Drive, Suite J, Littleton, Colorado 80120
1-800-460-0288
720-344-1217
www.5280prosthetics.com
Project Team Members: Mr. Johnston
Staff Interviewed: Clint Accinni, CPO

Questions:
1. Can separate inductive charger be mounted to the limb?
a. Yes, but Clint did not seem to feel it was necessary. They tried to use magnets for the inductive device to create a different interface, but they blew up their circuitry. What they did was have a plastic piece of the socket peal back and then the user could place it in the inductive charger. They had to make their own inductive charger which was an issue and an extra cost. With the wired charger they now have, anyone can purchase it on Amazon.
b. The Smart Puck NEVER leaves the socket. Patient do not want to remove it as the vacuum it creates sucks it deeper into the socket. Even the wired charging port has the adapter below the seal.
2. Can a separate Puck charger be developed?
a. Yes, they have done that on the inductive end but it increases the price and they have to manufacture it.
3. Why did the inductive charging system you developed fail?
a. Patients had a hard time balancing the entire limb to create contact with the charging interface. It was a smaller interface and if it did not connect exactly right, it would not charge.
4. Can you send us an old Smart Puck with inductive charging?
a. Yes, just let us know what you need and we will send it to you.
5. How much energy does it expend in one day?
a. Good question, not sure, the Smart Puck uses a 1000 mA battery. It is advertised that it will last up to 3 days. It is a lithium Polymer battery. This time frame does not include any use at night of the limb.
6. Do you have an energy management system?
a. Yes, the App we have will measure battery life in a percent.
7. Would it be useful to have an App that will give the user a expected percentage of battery life left it they are going to travel with the limb or use it for a work purpose?
a. Yes, this would be helpful.
8. Can the limb be redesigned to accommodate a kinetic energy harvesting device?
a. No, it can’t be redesigned. Clint felt the best route to accomplish that was to plug into the existing charging port. A wire would have to be run up from the device on the outside of the socket.  Wires on the outside of the socket are a concern, but may be able to be addressed in future designs.
b. Clint felt a kinetic energy charging system would be a very interesting adaptation for the Smart Puck.

Notes from meeting with Hanger Clinic Staff

Notes from meeting with Hanger Clinic Staff

Date: 7.23.18

Time: 10:50 AM – 12:15 PM

Location: Hanger Clinic, 3440 Losey Blvd South, La Crosse, WI 54601

Project Team Members: Alex & Mr. Johnston

Staff Interviewed:

Bob Loper (Branch manager)- Certified Prosthetist and Orthontist

Michael Schmitt, Certified Prosthetist and Orthontist

1 Lower limb would be better to harvest kinetic energy because there is more movement. Upper limbs can be more static.

2 Average pinch force of a hand is 17 lbs.

3Electric hands break more easily usually in moving a load from the index to the pinky fingers. They run on 2500 mA and are good from 24-48 hours.

4.     Insurance is the problem as it will normally only pay for one. Some people could use both a electric and a mechanical arm. Think of them as tools in your tool box for different applications.

5.     Creating a socket can be around $7000. New flexible sockets are made with polyurethane and can have silicon sleeves.

6.     When a person loses a limb they go through a grieving process just like you do when you lose a loved one.

7.     The Orthontist builds a relationship with the person. This sometimes is for a lifetime.

8.     The places we can develop the most movement to generate kinetic energy is the ankle and knee. There is also a small bit of tib/fib rotation that could be harvested.

9.     Many limbs are made of carbon fiber. The freedom foot costs $2000.

1 People are fitted for a prosthesis but it is not like buying a car, they do not get take it for a test drive. Basically what you see is what you get.

Inclines are the hardest for amputees to navigate (both up and down).

The type of artificial limb you get is determined by their current or potential functioning status. They are given a K level (See below):.

Level 0 -Does not have the ability or potential to ambulate or transfer safely with or without assistance and a prosthesis does not enhance their quality of life or mobility.

Level 1-Has the ability or potential to use a prosthesis for transfers or ambulation on level surfaces at fixed cadence. Typical of the limited and unlimited household ambulator.

Level 2-Has the ability or potential for ambulation with the ability to traverse low level environmental barriers such as curbs, stairs or uneven surfaces. Typical of the limited community ambulator.

Level 3-Has the ability or potential for ambulation with variable cadence. Typical of the community ambulator who has the ability to traverse most environmental barriers and may have vocational, therapeutic, or exercise activity that demands prosthetic utilization beyond simple locomotion.

Level 4-Has the ability or potential for prosthetic ambulation that exceeds basic ambulation skills, exhibiting high impact, stress, or energy levels. Typical of the prosthetic demands of the child, active adult, or athlete.

Mr. Looper demonstrating a prosthesis

Alex holding and example prosthesis.

Notes from Phone Call with 5280 Prosthetic’s staff

Notes from Phone Call with 5280 Prosthetic’s staff
Date: 7.16.18
Time: 10:00-10:35 AM
Location:  5280 Prosthetics LLC, 1501 West Campus Drive, Suite J, Littleton, Colorado 80120
1-800-460-0288
720-344-1217
www.5280prosthetics.com
Project Team Members: Mr. Johnston

Staff Interviewed:
Clint Accinni, CPO

1. 5280 worked with a business to develop a kinetic charging device for its Smart Puck. Nothing came from it and the company was eventually purchased by Apple Computer.
2. The main problem is the vacuum pump. It takes 3.7 volts to run. Kinetic devices could supply enough electricity for the Bluetooth and data systems, but not the pump.
3. The pump is in a vacuum so any hole drilled in the casing would compromise that. They tried inductance charging but it was hard for patients to manage so they now use a standard JST connector for charging.
4. The battery in the Smart Puck is currently 1000 mv.
5. The Smart Puck is really an elevated vacuum system. The limb gets smaller though the course of the day. The negative pressure created by the device prevents a volume change in the residual limb and allow the patient to apply more or less pressure.
6. There is room in the Smart Puck housing to create a device to charge it.
7. Clint is checking with their attorney to see if they can send us a smart puck to work on.

Notes from meeting with Limb Lab Staff

Notes from meeting with Limb Lab Staff

Date: 7.11.18

Date:7.11.18

Time: 12:50-1:45 PM

Location: Limb Lab, 1919 State Road, La Crosse, WI 54601

Project Team Members: Alex and Austin & Mr. Johnston

Staff Interviewed:

Joe Van Der Bosch- Certified Prosthetist and Orthontist

Jared Smith-Prosthetic & Orthotic Fitter

1.     The process all starts with a referral from a Doctor to meet with the Limb Lab staff on a prosthesis.

2.     An evaluation of the patient happens at the Limb Lab and the prosthesis is designed based on what they do.

3.     They do make interchangeable parts but sometimes insurance will only cover one prosthesis.

4.     $2000-$5000 for feet.

5.     Legs are the toughest to design and fabricate because they are weight bearing and you have to be concerned about center of mass and the increased training time to get used to the limb.

6.     A lot of the design depends on how badly damaged the arm or leg is.

7.     The leg can be scanned in with software and then a cast can be created and then a mold.

8.     Smart Puck is the industries first intelligent socket system with Constant Vacuum socket technology. The SmartPuck system is prosthetic socket technology that can actually improve the circulation and health of the residual limb. https://www.5280prosthetics.com/products/smartpuck/

9.     The problem is the sleeve will move as the limb changes size during the day. So the sleeve is pressurized to get tighter as the limb gets smaller. This can be controlled with a cell phone app.

10.  The limb must be taken off to charge the Puck during the night. What about a kinetic charging system to keep the puck charged?

11.  People with diabetes are very susceptible to loss of sensitivity in the limb. They can have no feeling on top of the residual limb or perhaps the side. Tactile response to pressure with it going to cell phone could be a option also.

Austin and Alex at the Limb Lab in La Crosse

Seeing a 5280 Smart Puck (vacuum pump) for the first time.