Intelligent prosthesis system
Phantom pain and the risk of falling are the two major unsolved problems of leg and foot amputees. The Austrian company Saphenus Medical Technology is developing a sensory feedback system (IPS) that solves these two problems. The novelty of IPS is the «feeling prosthesis» for the leg: The authentic capturing of the gait image represents a breakthrough innovation which does not exist in the global market so far. The key market application of IPS is cost-efficient, affordable, and an optimized care for amputees. The factor of pain in the form of phantom, neuroma or stump pain puts more than 50 percent of the amputees under pressure, and more than 2 million people throughout Europe are affected by a loss of their limbs. Saphenus brings to market a prosthesis solution that reduces or makes disappear phantom pains and brings cost savings of 50-85% to existing models. Social and health insurance institutions have recognized the socio-economic benefits of this breakthrough innovation of a direct cost saving of more than EUR 24,000 per year per pain-induced prosthesis wearers.