Otto Bock launches next-generation artificial leg with more natural walking

9 August 2011

Otto Bock Healthcare has launched its next generation C-Leg featuring mechanical and electronic enhancements that enables users to achieve an improved and more natural walking pattern.

The new C-Leg offers amputees even more freedom and confidence to meet the mobility challenges of everyday life.

The C-Leg was the world’s first completely microprocessor-controlled leg prosthesis to intelligently control and adapt to an individual's gait. The inbuilt microprocessor allows it to mimic the actions of the knee and adapt to all walking speeds in real time. Adjustments in the new model have improved swing phase control even further to provide easier, smoother movement at the knee joint with a larger range of movement possible. As a result, users are able to move expending less energy and without the need to focus on their prosthesis.

C-Leg technology already provided a high level of stability but in the new model adaptations have been made to the damping behaviour of the knee joint to enable the user to achieve balance more quickly after a trip or stumble. This helps lead to less frequent falls and an increase in confidence when taking the next step. The new C-Leg is also more robust with its maximum weight limit increased to 136kg, in combination with suitable tube adapters, so that more users can take advantage of the mobility benefit it offers.

Otto Bock Healthcare's new C-Leg

“Otto Bock’s R&D team is committed to working in close cooperation with doctors and patients to support the continuous development and improvement of user functionality and comfort and that is why we strived to expand the C-Leg’s capabilities,” said David Campbell, Sales Manager for the Prosthetics Division at Otto Bock Healthcare. “Enhancements to the reliability and security of the prosthesis ensure users are able to walk and continue with everyday tasks without thinking about the device plus benefit from increased self confidence and independence during every step.”

Further innovations in the new C-Leg include an additional activity mode called ‘3rd mode’ that allows extra, individualised movement patterns to be selected by the user. Adjustable damping behaviour has also been added for when the battery is drained and splash protection of the knee joint has been improved.