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Pylon
Pylons, as these fibre and leather limbs were known, were designed to get amputee servicemen used to walking before a more sophisticated metal limb could be fitted. -
WW1
Each British serviceman that lost a leg during WW1 was entitled to a free replacement limb. This leg was designed for a below knee amputee. -
Period: to
Pylon
Pylons as these fibre and leather limbs were known, were designed to get amputee servicemen used to walking before a more sophisticated metal limb could be fitted. -
Period: to
WW1
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Metal limbs
The increasing number of amputees after WW1 led to the first major development in prosthetic legs, the introduction of a light copper-aluminium alloy. Until this point many amputees were still using wood and leather peg leg prosthetics. -
Period: to
Metal limbs
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Knee Sockets
For the first time artificial legs with bending knee joints were widely distributed to amputees. The 'knee' would often need to be locked in place when stood upright and then released with the press of a switch in order to bend it when sitting down. -
Attempts to mimic natural walking
This limb saw the introduction of a 'smart' knee joint that would only lock when there was pressure from the 'heel' hitting the ground, it would then bend when there was pressure on the 'toes' creating the feel of a natural walk. -
Stubbies
The first pair, pictured here, was designed for a two year old girl and were made from asbestos. These short limbs are now used as a first-step prosthetic for above knee amputees. -
Extension Prosthetics
Thousands of children were being born with stunted limbs. These fixed one piece aluminium legs attached to the hips using pelvic bands. These legs were designed to give maximum stability when walking through the use of an artificial shoe. -
Plastic Legs for Children
In Cambodia many children were stepping on old landmines left over from the pre-1979 . This saw the widespread use of small, lightweight plastic limbs in the country for the first time. -
C-Leg
Otto Bock Health Care introduce the microprocessor controlled knee shin system C-Leg to the United States. Often described as a "quantum leap" in prosthetics the C-Leg remains one of the most desired artificial legs to this day. -
Proprio foot
As the world's first bionic foot, artificial intelligence takes the place of the human nervous system, constantly making judgements about the movement needed adjusting to different ground surfaces and changes in activity. -
Power Knee
The world's first bionic knee is motor-powered and its artificial intelligence closely simulates human muscle activity, allowing the wearer to almost seemlessly adjust to differing gradients when climbing stairs.
