Blatchford, leading manufacturer of world-renowned prosthetics, has announced a new innovation to its flagship product, the Orion3 microprocessor knee.
Orion3 is now internationally certified as water resistant, enabling amputees to walk freely outdoors without feeling limited by the elements. This will help give peace of mind to wearers, where prosthetic damage as a result of water ingress is often a common concern.
After being stringently tested and exposed to jets of water from multiple directions, Orion3 was revealed to provide IP55-level protection against the entry of fresh water. Drainage holes ensure water drains from the device, providing weatherproof protection wearers can rely on when spending time outdoors.
The impact of Orion3’s water resistant rating will be hugely impactful, helping enhance wearers’ ability to enjoy daily life and take on adventure.
Blatchford’s patented Performance Response Technology ™ (PRT) combines hydraulics, pneumatics and sensors to deliver pioneering levels of biomimicry. Wearers can replicate natural limb movement with ease, achieving a superior walking experience through all manner of everyday tasks and activities.
Orion3’s Enhanced Stability Performance (ESP) features five levels of stance resistance: Controlled Stance Support, Standing Support, Dynamic Slope and Stair Descent, Stumble Recovery, and Supported Sitting. These innovative features optimise safety, reducing the risk of falls1 and enabling the wearer to move fluidly in a variety of scenarios. Whether descending stairs, navigating uneven terrain in a crowd, or taking on extreme activities like kayaking and mountain biking, the water resistant Orion3 responds to the user’s movement in real time for optimal stability in all situations.
Ian, an amputee of 42 years after a road traffic accident, had the opportunity to test the water resistant Orion3 and has experienced a profound impact on his everyday life. “I’m not disabled when I’ve got my prosthetic on - I’m disabled when I don’t have it on. Orion3 means freedom, the freedom to do what I want to do, when I want to do it. Without limitation.
“It takes the thinking out of walking, and it’s helping me to concentrate on other things. Adding the water-resistant feature gives me another string to my bow, as water has always been an issue. It’s something you would avoid but now you don’t have to.”
Ben, another wearer of Orion3, is enjoying the spontaneity and adventure the device can provide. “I can’t really imagine living without the Orion3. Nothing has come close to giving me the freedom to live life and do things how I want to do them.
“It means I can just get outside and not have to worry about what I’m doing anymore. It enables you to be a lot more spontaneous, and I don’t have to worry about puddles or a bit of rain. It’s so much easier.”
Emma Scowen, Product Manager at Blatchford, said: “Orion3 is our leading microprocessor knee and allows the wearer to live life as they would prior to having an amputation. The safety aspect is the most important part in having confidence when using a device like this, and Orion3 enables amputees to walk on any terrain with a reduced risk in falls1.
“The IP55 rating really enhances a patient’s ability to live life normally. Whether getting caught in a rain shower or storm, going on a boat, or simply having a hosepipe fight with your kids, amputees would always have to question whether they could do these things. On Orion3, they can do it all with peace of mind and confidence, that the knee can get completely soaked and the water will safely drain out of the device.”
1OASIS 1: Retrospective analysis of four different microprocessor knee types, Journal of Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies Engineering, Volume 7, 2020.
