Alexander Schwartz, of St. Louis, is the winner of Össur’s 2017 #MyWinningMoment contest. Schwartz is a bilateral amputee who was born with fibular hemimelia. According to a company press release, Schwartz’s winning moment came when he embraced his adversity. He…
Year: 2017
Coding redetermination for custom diabetic inserts announced
A publication released in July by the Medicare administrative contractor for durable medical equipment, which clarified the use of billing code A5513 for custom diabetic inserts, has spurred a coding redetermination that will end all previous A5513 verifications by the…
Soft suit exoskeleton improved walking ability for patients after stroke
A soft suit exoskeleton aided more normal walking ability for ambulatory patients following a stroke, according to results published in the Journal of Science Translational Medicine. Researchers at Boston University and Harvard University’s Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering studied…
Novel tool seen as promising for assessment of mastectomy skin flaps
A noncontact, diffuse correlation spectroscopy device provided objective information about the viability of mastectomy skin flaps, which can allow surgeons to identify compromised and ischemic flaps early, and potentially save these structures, according to researchers from the University of Kentucky.…
Bionik integrates Amazon’s ‘Alexa’ voice commands into exoskeleton
Bionik Laboratories Corp. has announced the integration of Amazon’s Echo technology, as well as the “Alexa” voice command service, into its ARKE lower-body exoskeleton. According to a Bionik press release, users of the ARKE device will be able to activate…
Study: Use of robotic ankle device in rehabilitation aids stroke recovery
Isolated training with a robotic ankle device can improve walking speed and balance in patients who had a stroke, depending on the initial severity, according to researchers at the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research. The study, “Intensive seated robotic training…
Shirley Ryan AbilityLab ranked best hospital for rehabilitation
Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago was named the best hospital for rehabilitation by U.S. News and World Report in its annual ranking of medical centers across the country. Formerly the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab has been ranked…
Study: Side air bags can prevent ejections
Side curtain airbags in vehicles offer significant protection from partial ejections during certain types of car crashes, according to a press release from the Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center at the University of Washington. The study, “Severe soft tissue…
Quadruple amputee veteran to give keynote address at event for troops, families
U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Travis Mills, a veteran of the war in Afghanistan and quadruple amputee, will deliver the keynote address at the “For the Love of Our Troops” event on Sept. 22 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The event is…
Registration open for Össur Women’s Leadership Conference
Registration is open for the Össur Women’s Leadership Conference, which is scheduled for Sept. 28 to 30 at the company’s Academy facility in Orlando, Florida. According to a press release, the 3-day conference is open to all O&P professionals and…