Two mechanical engineering graduate students and their professor at Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn., received the Wyss Institute-IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society Award for Translational Research for their work on a robotic leg prosthesis, according to a news release.
The award, which recognizes translational engineering projects with the potential for making a transformative impact on health care safety, quality, effectiveness, accessibility and affordability, was given to Brian E. Lawson, Amanda M. Huff and their professor, Michael Goldfarb, after they presented their topic, “A Robotic Leg Prosthesis for Biomimetic Locomotion in Transfemoral Amputees,” to a panel of industry experts at the IEEE-Engineering and Biology Society International Conference in San Diego on Aug. 30.
The prosthesis, developed in Vanderbilt’s Center for Intelligent Mechatronics, is a powered transfemoral prosthesis that enhances mobility and reduces falls for lower limb amputees. The technology has been licensed to Freedom Innovations, which plans to continue the development of the prosthesis and fabricate a version for the commercial market.
