Image: Smiling and playful childImage: Doctor Tom ChauImage: Child playing

Bloorview Research Institute

Commercialization: Low-Cost Prosthetic Knee Joint

The LC Knee

The LC Knee is a new prosthetic knee joint for individuals with above-knee amputation. It is based on the novel SASPL (Simplified Automatic Stance-Phase Lock) technology. The SASPL mechanism provides stance-phase control including a securely locked knee during weight-bearing. The knee automatically unlocks for swing-phase to provide gait that is safe, efficient and aesthetic. 

Image: Knee joint diagrams

While the simple design and polymer construction allow it to be used in harsh environments and for activities in the water.

Image: Knee jointImage: Knee joint use while swimming

The unique control mechanism supports high-level activity on land.

The LCKnee is currently undergoing clinical testing in Canada and El Salvador. Presently the LC Knee is not commercially available.

Background

For individuals with a trans-femoral amputation, the prevalent function of the prosthetic knee joint is its ability to provide stance-phase control and to facilitate a more natural gait. Although a variety of commercially available knee joints provide such function, many use complex mechanisms that are too costly for general use. Conversely, simple, lower-cost knee joints provide only crude stance-phase control, and therefore do not facilitate gait that is aesthetic, functional, efficient and safe.

Technology

We have recently developed a novel and affordable prosthetic knee joint with a highly effective stance-phase control mechanism. The estimated reductions in manufacturing costs associated with this product are substantial, up to approximately 90%, when compared to other commercially available prosthetic knee joint technologies with similar stance-phase control characteristics. The opportunity for the low-cost production of this prosthetic knee joint technology is associated with its simple and robust design, the use of low-cost materials, and mass-production manufacturing processes (injection moulding of thermoplastics).

Applications

This project presents an important opportunity for the development of affordable prosthetic technologies that facilitate greater functionality, and the potential for improved quality of life for the majority of the world’s population of trans-femoral amputees. In Canada, potential economic benefits may be realized through Canada-based manufacturing, and also decreased prosthetic prescription costs, which will help lower overall health care expenditures.

This new affordable basic prosthetic technology does not have the sophisticated functional /technological capabilities (i.e. adaptive stance-phase and swing-phase damping, stance-flexion) of the most expensive high-end prosthetic components (e.g., such as microprocessor-based knee joints), available in today’s worldwide marketplace. It does have, however, a direct and important applicability to certain segments of healthcare, and some population health situations.

In developed regions of the world patients will have access to prostheses that are more functional, with some relief of the financial burden associated with the acquisition of these prostheses. Where government and third party funding exists, some financial savings will be passed onto these organizations.

The implementation of this unique prosthetic technology gives us the opportunity to improve the quality of life of individuals around the world, whose participation in socio-economic activities was previously limited by the functionality of their prostheses.

Patent

A US patent has been filed (11/564897) for the low cost knee joint

Business Opportunity

With the implementation of low-cost production, the commercial opportunities for a highly profitable product are significant.

  • Family Corner
  • Youth Corner
  • Kids Corner