Exhibition such as prosthetic leg in front of Tokyo Paralympics October 7th 13:12

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Before the Tokyo Paralympic Games next year, the world's largest exhibition gathering prosthetics and orthotics used in treatment was held in Kobe City for the first time in 30 years, with a motor that expands the range of action for elderly people with weak muscle strength Prosthetic legs have appeared and are attracting attention.

This exhibition is held every 2 years by the NPO “International Association of Prosthetics and Orthotics” in Japan. In Japan, it will begin on the 5th of this month for the first time in 30 years since 1989, before the next Tokyo Paralympic Games. It is.

The venue is attended by about 5,000 people from 93 countries, including medical personnel, and exhibits cutting-edge equipment.

Of these, a prosthetic leg with a motor developed by a venture company from the University of Tokyo has four sensors attached around the knees and ankles, which can sense the movement of the foot and automatically control the motor.

Compared to conventional prostheses, it is expected that even elderly disabled people with weak muscles can move without assistance, expand the range of action such as going up and down stairs, and prevent falling. In addition, part of the parts were produced with a 3D printer and the production cost was reduced, making it possible to reduce the price to about a half compared to other commercially available artificial legs with motors.

Visited prosthetics and orthotics heard explanations from the person in charge about the price and the fact that they would not fall down even if they put weight on the prosthetic leg side.

A man in his 40s who is a prosthetic brace living with a prosthetic leg said, `` If you can't go up by your own power, your life will be very inconvenient, so if your prosthetic leg moves by yourself, you will cover another leg. I think it would be good. I can expect it. "

Mr. Chen Takaaki, who hosted the exhibition, said, “Technological progress is indispensable to enlivening the Paralympic Games. We will continue to develop cutting-edge technologies, so we want to make the tournament a future door. I think. " This exhibition is open until the 8th.

Son Kogun (31), who started a venture company from the University of Tokyo that succeeded in developing a prosthetic leg with an electric motor with reduced price, cuts the lower leg from the thigh of his right leg because of osteosarcoma when he was nine years old. did. Because my parents were poor farmers, I couldn't buy even a prosthetic leg and lived for 15 years with pine needles handmade by my father.

Son used the prosthetic leg for the first time since he was born using the subsidy system to purchase prosthetic limbs in Japan by issuing a disability certificate eight years ago when he was enrolled at the University of Tokyo Graduate School. Unlike Matsuba Zue, the prosthetic leg is impressed by the freedom of both hands.

Mr. Sun said, “I felt very grateful to be able to walk with my friends with my feet as I was a child, and I was very happy.”

In 2018, Mr. Son launched a company to make motorized prostheses, thinking that prosthetic legs would be easier to use. The prosthetic leg under development is equipped with four sensors and a motor that measure the knee angle and prosthetic leg tilt.

This makes it possible for elderly people with weaker muscular strength to move compared to conventional prosthetic legs and to prevent falls. In addition, the production cost will be reduced by producing parts with existing parts and 3D printers, and it will be sold before the next Paralympic Games at about half the price compared to commercially available artificial legs with motors. .

Mr. Sun said, “As technology evolves, this means of moving people with disabilities has been slow to develop. If you really need them, I want to help you with the latest technology. I would like to complement people with the power of technology and create a world where people can live in the same way as you. "

Some people are looking forward to the prosthetic leg with a motor that Mr. Son made. Office worker Shinjiro Sekida (27), who lives in Yamato City, Kanagawa Prefecture, was cut off from her knee when she was 18 because of a cardiac arrhythmia that caused a blood clot under her right leg knee. Since then, I have been forced to live on a prosthetic leg. Prosthetic leg used by Sekida does not move the ankle joint.

For this reason, when moving up and down stairs or on hills, the burden on knees and cut sections is heavy, and I am worried that I will be able to walk in the same way as before when my strength weakens in the future.

Mr. Sekida said, “When I reach the age of 70 or 80, I am worried that I will not be able to walk. It will be a wheelchair life. For my wife and children who may be able to do it in the future, I did n’t want to bother as much as possible. ”

At the end of last month, Sekida walked outdoors for the first time with a motorized prosthetic leg developed by a venture company in Tokyo. In the past, it was necessary to lift up the inner legs step by step on wide stairs. However, when a prosthetic leg with a motor was installed, the power of the motor supported the prosthetic leg, and it was possible to quickly go up and down the stairs while crossing the legs left and right.

Mr. Sekida said, “If you have a wider angle of movement of your ankle, the range of movement will increase. I hope it will be cheaper and more people can get it.” It was.