Innovative Prosthetics Research Demonstrations
WHO: 50 East Greenwich High School honors students, along with Helen Huang, URI professor of biomedical engineering; Michael Nunnery, owner of Nunnery Orthotic & Prosthetic Technologies; Susan Neinstadt, anaplastologist at Prosthetic Artworks; and prosthetics users Keith Pancake, Steven Maguire and Kevin Klitz.
WHAT: The students will learn about biomedical engineering technologies by participating in six hands-on activities involving high-tech prosthetic devices. Students will attempt to walk on a treadmill while using a modified prosthetic device for able-bodied subjects; wear a “motion capture suit” containing dozens of sensors to record the motion of the human body while viewing themselves on a large computer screen; communicate one-on-one with amputees to hear their stories and learn about their state-of-the-art prosthetic devices; use electrodes on their arms to control the motion of a “virtual arm;” and hold/examine life-like prosthetic parts (i.e. fingers, hands, feet, etc.); among other activities.
WHERE: The URI Neuromuscular Rehabilitation Engineering Laboratory, 2 Greenhouse Road, on the URI Kingston campus.
WHEN: Thursday, April 26, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
CONTACT: Becky Blaine, Nunnery Orthotic & Prosthetic Technologies, 401-294-4210 or 401-474-6209, becky@nunneryoandp.com, or Todd McLeish, URI Communications & Marketing, 401-874-7892, tmcleish@uri.edu.