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Researchers have developed an artificial knee with sensors that can monitor potentially damaging activities that can prematurely damage the joint. The technology addresses a significant problem faced by younger artificial knee recipients, helping them extend the life of the device for an overall improved experience. The sensors are powered using a system of energy recovery.
Artificial knees are an incredible technology that dramatically improves the quality of life of recipients. As with many good things, however, there is a disadvantage: the false knee lasts only a very long time before wearing out, and it must be replaced. A young patient who is not very cautious can face the harsh reality of knee replacements every five to ten years.
False knee recipients should avoid overly tiring activities that put too much pressure on the artificial knee, which shortens the life of the knee by increasing the damage. It can be difficult to determine if the patient is engaging in a particularly damaging activity. However, a problem that the recently developed "smart knee" solves.
The intelligent knee implant was developed by researchers from the University of Binghamton and the State University of New York. The device's sensors monitor the pressure exerted by the patient's activities on the joint, allowing doctors to determine if there is a risk of harm and to mitigate it before a problem occurs.
The smart device is designed to reduce the number of knee replacements that the patient experiences, but that means that a typical battery would not work to power the knee – the battery would eventually need to be replaced, which would go to against technology. To solve this problem, the implant uses triboelectric energy, which is harvested by friction. In simple terms, the knee is powered by the act of walking.
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