Benefits of the Genium microprocessor controlled prosthetic knee on ambulation, mobility, activities of daily living and quality of life: a systematic literature review.

Purpose: The benefits of advanced hydraulic microprocessor controlled knee (MPK) joints have been well established and repeatedly confirmed. The Genium knee was introduced in 2011 containing an enhanced control concept including additional sensors and improved algorithms enabling a range of new functions for transfemoral amputees (TFAs). A systematic review was conducted to evaluate the effect of the Genium knee on ambulation, mobility, activities of daily living (ADLs) and quality of life compared to standard MPKs.

Mathematical models of proprioceptors. I. Control and transduction in the muscle spindle.

We constructed a physiologically realistic model of a lower-limb, mammalian muscle spindle composed of mathematical elements closely related to the anatomical components found in the biological spindle. The spindle model incorporates three nonlinear intrafusal fiber models (bag(1), bag(2), and chain) that contribute variously to action potential generation of primary and secondary afferents. A single set of model parameters was optimized on a number of data sets collected from feline soleus muscle, accounting accurately for afferent activity during a variety of ramp, triangular, and sinusoidal stretches.

Mathematical models of proprioceptors. II. Structure and function of the Golgi tendon organ.

We developed a physiologically realistic mathematical model of the Golgi tendon organ (GTO) whose elements correspond to anatomical features of the biological receptor. The mechanical interactions of these elements enable it to capture all salient aspects of GTO afferent behavior reported in the literature. The model accurately describes the GTO's static and dynamic responses to activation of single motor units whose muscle fibers insert into the GTO, including the different static and dynamic sensitivities that exist for different types of muscle fibers (S, FR, and FF).