Dr Nadine Stech is Principal Integrated Control Design
Engineer at Blatchford, a world leading manufacturer
and rehabilitation provider with expertise in prosthetics, orthotics, special
seating and wheelchairs.
She is project champion of
the multi-award winning fully integrated, microprocessor controlled lower limb
prosthesis Linx - awards include the MacRobert Award of the Royal Academy of
Engineering 2016, German Design Award Winner 2017 and Medical Design Excellence
Awards 2017 - Gold Winner and Best in Show.
Don’t miss her talking
about Linx at The Engineer Conference at 1215 on Wednesday 6 June. We caught up with her before her session to
talk about all things robotics, AI and diversity.
What does Linx do
that previous prosthetic limbs couldn't?
Linx is an electronically
integrated lower limb system. It allows the communication and data exchange
between prosthetic knee joint and prosthetic foot joint. This enables
coordination of both joints instead of isolated, individual joint responses to
gait events.
How does
this translate for patients?
The inter-joint communication
allows for additional functionality and safety. A prime example is the ramp
descent mode that allows transfemoral amputees to walk down a moderate ramp
leg-over-leg instead of yielding down or avoiding ramps.
How did you
overcome those limitations to take things to the next level?
The first step was to
understand the biomechanical requirements. This was then translated into a
system integration approach that enabled inter-joint communication and
additional functionality.
What's next? How
can prosthetics be developed even further and how will AI and robotics be
involved in that progression?
The key areas are improvements
to the human-machine-interface (HMI), system integration (such as integrating
the socket into the limb system) and application of power where required. AI
and robotics naturally lead themselves to be integrated into prosthetics.
How important is
it for engineering to have a diverse workforce?
Engineering is becoming more
and more a multidisciplinary effort involving specialists in areas like
materials, electronics, mechanics and software with different perspectives and
knowledge. A diverse workforce allows finding a better solution for an
engineering problem.
There are 20,000
women keen to get back into engineering after leaving to have children - what
do you think industry and/or Government should be doing to entice them
back?
There are two main areas:
firstly, refresher courses: Technological knowledge gets outdated very quickly.
Refresher courses in very specific, specialised areas would be beneficial. This
would allow to regain confidence which is a prerequisite for a successful
re-integration into the workforce.
And, secondly, a good framework and enough
support to allow a healthy family-work balance.
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