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G32 - Computerized Legs
Intro: The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have boosted interest in improving prosthetic devices for soldiers who've lost their legs in battle. Computerized legs are replacing older mechanical models and are being used by civilians on the home front as well. Mayo Clinic is testing the technology on a firefighter who lost his leg above the knee in a motorcycle accident.
| Video | Audio |
| Total running time 1:32 | WHEN VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS ARRIVED ON THE SCENE, THIS HOUSE WAS ... |
Dean Musgjard |
"FULLY ENGULFED. THERE WERE FLAMES COMING OUT EVERY WINDOW." |
| VO: Dean at fire | DEAN MOOSH-ERD HAS BEEN WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR 15 YEARS. |
VO: Dean running pumper |
YOU CAN'T TELL BY WATCHING HIM RUN THE PUMPER, BUT DEAN LOST HIS LEFT LEG FROM MIDTHIGH DOWN AFTER A MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT 20 YEARS AGO. |
| Dean Musgjard | "IT PRETTY MUCH TORE THE BOTTOM HALF OFF." |
| SINCE THEN HE'S ... | |
| Dean Musgjard | "BEEN THROUGH A DOZEN OR SO DIFFERENT TYPES OF KNEES AND FEET." |
VO: Dean at fire to Dean walking with leg in motion analysis lab |
ALL OF THEM HELPED HIM STAND AND WALK. BUT TODAY HE'S USING A NEW COMPUTERIZED LEG BEING TESTED AT MAYO CLINIC. DR. KEN KAUFMAN SAYS YOU CAN THINK OF IT AS A SMART LEG. |
Ken Kaufman, Ph.D. |
"IT'S SMART BECAUSE IT DETECTS WHAT THE PERSON IS TRYING TO DO AND MAKES ADJUSTMENTS TO ALLOW THEM TO DO THAT MORE NATURALLY." |
Animation Dr. Kaufman |
THE COMPUTERIZED LEG, ALSO CALLED A MICROPROCESSOR-CONTROLLED KNEE, USES TWO SENSORS THAT CONTROL MOVEMENT. ONE IS IN THE SHAFT NEAR THE ANKLE AND SENSES LOAD. AND ANOTHER ONE IS "IN THE KNEE TO KNOW WHEN THE KNEE IS FLEXING AND EXTENDING." |
| DEAN SAYS THE BIGGEST IMPROVEMENTS FROM OLDER MECHANICAL MODELS ARE THAT HE CAN NOW RUN, CHANGE HIS PACE OF WALKING WITHOUT THINKING ABOUT IT, CAN WALK DOWN STAIRS. | |
Dean Musgjard |
"THAT'S HUGE. THAT'S FUN. I HAVEN'T DONE THAT IN A LOT OF YEARS. THE OTHER ONES JUST DIDN'T HAVE THE RESISTANCE." |
| A LIMITATION OF THE LEG IS ... | |
| Dean Musgjard | "I CAN'T GO UP STAIRS ONE AT A TIME." |
Standup |
DEAN SAYS THE LEG DOESN'T HOLD HIM BACK. HE'S USUALLY MANNING THE HOSE, CLIMBING THE LADDER IN FULL TURNOUT GEAR WITH HIS FELLOW FIREFIGHTERS. |
| "I CAN DO ANYTHING. I JUST GOT THE CLEAN JOB TONIGHT." | |
| FOR MEDICAL EDGE, I'M VIVIEN WILLIAMS. | |
Tag: Dean says before he got the computerized leg, he could still keep up with his colleagues at a fire. But the new knee gives him much more freedom to move, climb, run and work as a volunteer helping his community. He says it gives him much more freedom. For more information on amputations and microprocessor-controlled knees, visit our Web site at ...
STATIONS: Per the licensing agreement, please provide a link from your station's Web site to www.mayoclinic.org/medical-edge or voice tag "mayoclinic.org/medical-edge" for more information.
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