Boston Digital Arm featured in Targeted Muscle Reinnervation presentation at AAAS Meeting

An upper-limb prosthesis using Targeted Muscle Reinnervation was demonstrated by Dr. Todd Kuiken at the recent American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) meeting. This prosthesis featured a new pattern recognition system with the LTI Boston Digital Arm. This innovative technology provides greater dexterity and better control than traditional prostheses. It uses input signals from reinnervated muscles and interprets the pattern of these signals to determine the user's desired movement.

to view this presentation, click this link: http://www.eurekalert.org/aaasnewsroom/2011/watchbriefing.php?page=3

New M-Fingers for Partial Hands

Liberating Technologies introduces the new M-Finger partial hand kit. This kit consists of dexterous fingers, a multi-position friction thumb and mounting plates for use in a mechanical hand assembly. The fingers and thumb have urethane over-molds to provide better grasp and molded-in finger nails for picking up small objects. The fingers are actuated by a Spectra cable that crosses the wrist and is controlled by simple wrist flexion. Each finger independently conforms to the shape of the object it is grasping, thus allowing for multiple grasp patterns. M-Fingers are available in a variety of lengths and colors and can be customized to meet the specific needs of the patient. M-Fingers are normally built onto a silicone partial hand socket with the appropriate number of fingers and finger sizes to match the sound-side hand. This fabrication can be done by the local practitioner or through one of several qualified central fabrication facilities.

New Electrode Options

Liberating Technologies now offers two options for prosthetic myoelectrodes: traditional cased electrodes similar to the Bock 13E200 and remote electrodes. Both have excellent performance with high sensitivity, good ambient noise immunity (50 and 60 Hz filtering), on-board gain adjustment and competitive pricing. The cased electrode (SEA200) enables practitioners to use traditional myoelectric signal acquisition methods. This electrode kit comes with both lamination and thermoplastic dummies. The remote electrode (DC200) is designed for use where space is limited and cosmesis is critical. This electrode-amplifier is thin and can be concealed in the cavity between the inner and outer sockets with shielded wires leading to separate metal electrodes in the socket. The metal electrodes are available in three sizes/shapes to get the optimum myoelectric signal for the particular fitting. LTI stocks both of these products and the associated cables and connectors to make them compatible with Bock and other manufacturer’s systems

New Electric Hands

The new Select MyoElectric Hands from RSLSteeper are now available in the United States through Liberating Technologies, Inc. These hands are offered in 3 popular adult sizes (7¼, 7¾ and 8¼ inch). They are competitively priced and use extra long Elegance PVC or silicone gloves. The fingers have been reinforced, making them more durable than similar electric hands. Features include a quick-release thumb for safety, and two wrist options; Bock-style Quick Disconnect or a 1/2-20 stud. For convenience, they have 9 control strategies on-board so the clinician can simply select the best strategy for their patient.

Skinergy-Plus

SKINERGY PLUS sets a new standard for silicone below-knee cosmeses. Theses new cosmetic leg covers are now available in the U.S. from LTI. Reinforced with integrated mesh and advanced silicone materials, the new cosmetic covers provide significantly greater durability. Now available in 19 color shades with unique True Finish micro-pigmentation for a realistic look.

Skinergy leg covers still offer; seamless design, easy to clean, closed- or split-toe styles, adult foot sizes from 22 to 30 cm and two calf sizes. Popular Skinergy leg covers are stocked at LTI and available for immediate delivery. Less common sizes/colors are usually available in 7-10 days.

Contact LTI at 1-800-437-0024 ext 15 to request a new True Finish color swatch kit (#E24658) or to place your order for the new SKINERGY PLUS cosmeses.

Boston Arm on Good Morning America and Oprah Winfrey Shows

On September 14, 2006 Claudia Mitchell appeared on Good Morning America and on October 14, on the Oprah Winfrey Show. Ms. Mitchell, a high-level unilateral amputee, demonstrated her sophisticated prosthesis and her ability to operate several joints simultaneously in a coordinated movement. Unlike traditional prostheses, her state-of-the-art prosthetic system is a complex assembly of components from around the world. The foundation however, is a Boston Digital Arm System from LTI. It provides the power and manages all of the devices in the system; hand, wrist flexion/extension, pro/supination, elbow flexion, etc.

Ms. Mitchell underwent targeted reinnervation surgery at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago earlier this year, enabling her to produce 10 muscle signals to operate her prosthesis. LTI Remote Electrodes acquire signals from these 10 sites and the Boston Digital Arm System’s micro-computer receives these signals and determines which motors to run. Based on the individual signal strengths, it also sets the speed of each device. As a result, she can operate up to five devices simultaneously giving her broader capabilities, greater efficiency and more natural motion than conventional prosthetic systems.

New Mechanical Hands

The new line of Select mechanical hands from RSLSteeper Company is now available in the United States through Liberating Technologies, Inc. These new hands are offered in 4 popular sizes, from youth to adult (6¾, 7¼, 7¾ and 8¼ inch) in both front and rear cable pull. They are compatible with all of the common wrist types, thus interfacing with other manufacturer’s components. These new hands are less than ½ the price of the previous model mechanical hands and use Elegance extra long PVC or silicone gloves which are offered in 19 skin tones. Smaller children’s mechanical, electric and passive hands are also available.

New Mid-Size Lithium Built-In Battery

Liberating Technologies introduces another new Lithium built-in battery (BP103) to round-out the product line. The latest is a 450 mAh capacity, 7.2 volt battery intended for adult's and children's upper-extremity prostheses. This can be used in places where larger batteries will not fit such as; long trans-radial, partial hands, wrist disarticulations and various pediatric prostheses.. The battery's capacity is adequate for most electric hands and because of its small size, it can be concealed in the prosthesis resulting in better cosmesis. The latest version (introduced in September 2009) is 22% smaller than its predecessor. It measures 10 x 18 x 52mm and weighs just 30 grams. This new battery fills the void between LTI’s standard 750 mAh and miniature 200 mAh built-in batteries. It has the benefits of Lithium chemistry – high-density resulting in; 50% lighter than Ni-MH, twice the capacity of Ni-CAD and 20% greater voltage. The battery is supplied with an on/off switch - recharge connector module. A high-speed charger (BC96) is also available. LTI also offers several removable batteries.

Boston Arm on Good Morning America and the Today Show

On June 30, 2005, Jessie Sullivan, a shoulder-level bilateral amputee, demonstrated his state-of-the-art prosthetic system to the nation on Good Morning America. He grasped a bottle of water and brought it to his lips to show the dexterity he has with this unique prosthetic system.

Dr. Todd Kuiken and his team at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, transplanted nerves from Mr. Sullivan’s arm to muscles on his chest. Once these nerves reattached, his chest was mapped for muscle signals and LTI electrodes were placed over sites that represented muscles previously in his arm. The micro-computer in the Boston Digital Arm detects these signals and manages the operation of the various prosthetic motors. It not only determines which device to operate, but based on the muscle signals, it also determines the desired speed and direction. Because Mr. Sullivan has eight independent myoelectric inputs, he can run his prosthetic devices simultaneously for greater efficiency and more natural movements.

The prosthetic system consists of a Boston Digital Arm as the elbow joint and control platform for the five additional powered joints: a humeral rotator, shoulder joint, hand, wrist flexion and wrist rotation. The system was built through a collaborative effort between the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Liberating Technologies, Inc. and Northwestern University. It is the most sophisticated upper-limb prosthetic system ever fit to a patient with more degrees of freedom than previously provided.

ELEGANCE Gloves

• 25 percent longer
• 4 common sizes-styles
• Available in 19 color shades
• For Bock and Motion Control electric hands
• Also for Bock and Hosmer mechanical hands
• Advanced micro-pigmentation finish - TrueFinish
• Excellent definition and hand-painted finger nails

LTI announces ELEGANCE a new line of Silicone and PVC gloves in an extra long style. This length allows the practitioner to produce a smooth transition over the proximal socket brim and where needed an extension to mid upper-arm. ELEGANCE Silicone gloves are made from Tufsil-3, a new polymer with toughness, elasticity, abrasion resistance and greater tensile strength than previous silicones. The most noteworthy feature of this new silicone is its ability to resist stains, a common problem with cosmetic gloves. Additionally, the increased elasticity allows the hands to operate more efficiently, consuming less power.

ELEGANCE Silicone and PVC are now available in TrueFinish, a new micro-pigmentation finish for added realism and depth. For those clients who cannot justify the additional cost of silicone, ELEGANCE PVC is an excellent choice.

LTI Locking Shoulder Joint Wins Design Award

The new LTI Locking Shoulder Joint was the winner of this years Gold Engineering Award from Product Design and Development Magazine. It has been redesigned to provide more strength and greater resistance to wear. Made from high strength aerospace alloys, the joint is a durable and yet light-weight (143 grams). The shoulder swings in a natural arc during gait, but it can be locked in 36 positions, or every 10°. The joint can be left in either the free-swing or locked mode. The user can free the joint manually or by using an optional nudge control. A powered unlock option (shown in photo) was announced in 2009. Abduction/adduction is achieved through a second hinge with adjustable friction. The LTI Locking Shoulder Joint can be used in both endo- and exo-skeletal prosthetic systems.

The L-codes approved in January 1, 2003 apply to this new shoulder joint:

L6646 - Upper extremity addition, shoulder joint, multipositional locking, flexion, adjustable abduction friction control, for use with body powered or external powered system

L6647 - Upper extremity addition, shoulder lock mechanism, body powered actuator

L6648 - Upper extremity addition, shoulder lock mechanism, external powered actuator