Currently, 30 million people need mobility devise like prosthetics. Additionally, 80% of amputees are living on less than $4 a day and cannot afford prosthetics that would significantly improve their lives. Most low-cost prosthetic knees are rather ineffective. They are cost-prohibitive and they often prevent natural mobility, making everyday activities difficult. ReMotion’s JaipurKnee is a potential solution to this problem.
ReMotion’s JaipurKnee was developed in collaboration with Stanford University and the Jaipur Foot Organization, a world-renowned prosthetics provider. This project is overseen by D-Rev, a non-profit product development company that aspires to improve the lives of those living on less than $4 a day. They aim to remedy the fact that many third-world solutions are ineffective, inappropriate for the circumstances, and much too expensive for their customer base.
Before full production of the JaipurKnee begins, an extensive field test is being conducted. This test involves fitting 1,000 patients with JaipurKnees at a cost of $80,000. At a mere $80 per knee, this is an amazing achievement in and of itself. You can support this effort by donating that their website.
The JaipurKnee is innovative in both its cost and its design. With its self-lubricating joint, this is a durable product that lasts 3-5 years with regular use. The device weighs only 1.5 pounds and allows for 165 degrees of motion, which enables more natural movement. Perhaps most importantly, the JaipurKnee is compatible with standard prosthetic leg systems, further reducing cost and considerably simplifying logistics.
Almost 5,000 people have been fitted with ReMotion’s JaipurKnee, and consumer reception has been excellent. When the Jaipur Foot Organization switched to the JaipurKnee, the percentage of patients who continued using their new knees increased from 65% to 79%. Furthermore, 95% of patients reported no failures in their JaipurKnees. These new knees improve patients’ quality of life by making everyday tasks easier, and increase their potential to earn a living by enabling them to access a larger range of job opportunities.
– Katie Fullerton
Sources: D-Rev, ReMotion Knee
Photo: Jaipur Foot