10
Sunday, January 29, 2012
The Times, Gainesville, Georgia |
gainesvilletimes com
‘Intelligent’ foot takes prosthetics to new level Shannan Finke
see her. I probably wouldn’t have been if I hadn’t gotten my right foot taken off,” Aikens recounts of the amputation. Aikens’ left foot also became MRSA-infected. After already having battled the infection once, Aikens knew he had no other choice but to have his left foot taken off. There was no second guessing the choice for amputation. Aikens’ first prosthetics were two Onyx feet. He used these multi-axial prosthetics for a little over a year before making enough improvements to qualify for the Proprio feet. Jason Auyer, a licensed and certified prosthetist and ortho-
sfinke@gainesvilletimes.com
To walk a mile in the shoes of Army veteran Johnny Aikens would mean experiencing what it feels like to use one of the most modern prosthetics available to amputees. Aikens received a Proprio foot on both his left and right legs after becoming a bilateral trans-tibial below-the-knee amputee. He’s been walking tall ever since. The Proprio foot is one of the most advanced prosthetics of its kind and is known as the world’s first intelligent foot. Its design is made to mimic the natural foot and ankle as authentically as possible through a process called proprioception, from which the prosthetic also derives its name. Through proprioception, the human body is able to know where it is in space without having to physically see its location, such as your foot knowing it is on an incline even if you aren’t looking at the ground. Although this is a natural process for the human body, an amputee like Aikens does not have the benefit of proprioception. However, a microprocessor in the Proprio foot imitates proprioception, and Aikens’ ankle is able to adjust to the varying terrains he encounters, whether it be going up a hill or down a flight of stairs. Regardless of the change in surface, the Proprio foot will move accordingly. Aikens’ journey began with
Please see Intelligent page 11 SCOTT ROGERS | The Times Above: Jason Auyer with Atlanta Prosthetics & Orthotics helps Johnny Aikens with his prosthetic feet after making an adjustment. Above right: Auyer holds one of the prosthetic feet custom made for Aikens.
a crack on his right heel that led to a diagnosis of MRSA, or methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus. This particular staph germ is resistant to antibiotics generally used to treat staph infections and can spread to bones, joints, the blood and organs once it has entered the body. After his diagnosis, Aikens went from 196 pounds to 135 pounds in just nine weeks. In 2008, Aikens underwent a quadruple bypass heart surgery. In 2009, the right foot that had been infected by MRSA was amputated. “I had a granddaughter on the way, and I wanted to be able to