It Adapts the knee to the Patient, the Patient does not have to adapt to the knee!
A traditional 4-Bar knee provides a given level of Inherent Stability and energy consumption, regardless of the Amputee’s individual needs. DAW’s 5-Bar Adjustable Inherent Stability lets the prosthetist choose the level of Inherent Stability and energy consumed by the Amputee.
Customizing the level of Inherent Stability by altering the location of the knee’s Instantaneous Center of Rotation (ICR):
The ICR is a point located at the intersection of 2 lines passing through the polycentric knee’s axis which continue proximally. Its distance posterior from TKA determines the level of Inherent Stability during stance phase. The Amputee perceives the center of the knee to be here, providing much higher voluntary control and stability over single axis knees.
The Traditional 4-Bar Knee
To dial-in Inherent Stability the Prosthetist must alter TKA by sliding the socket. This makes it difficult to walk as the patient must now “overcome” the added stability to initiate swing phase.
V.S.
DAW’s Advanced 5-Bar Knee
To dial-in Inherent Stability, the ICR can be positioned anywhere within the range with a simple adjustment. No socket sliding. Because TKA is not altered, the patient does not need to “overcome” the added stability.
As the ICR moves posterior and superior, the patient is less prone to falling thanks to increased Inherent Stability and Voluntary Control.