JaipurKnee: a high-performance knee joint for developing world amputees
Kamal in Motion
At the age of 16, Kamal lost his left leg in a motorcycle accident. Unable to afford a prosthetic limb, he used a bamboo staff to get around, leaving his hands callused and his spine misaligned. In August of 2008, Kamal was fit with a JaipurKnee and within a day, was able to walk. He soon found a job delivering food to patients and staff at the clinic that fit his knee.
Globally, over 30 million people need mobility devices such as prosthetics
In the developing world—particularly in war torn regions of Asia and Africa— trauma, disease, and natural disasters result in hundreds of thousands of new amputees per year.
80% of the world’s amputees can’t afford modern prosthetics
For amputees in low-resource settings, modern prosthetics are prohibitively expensive, typically costing thousands of dollars depending on their level of sophistication.
Existing, low-cost knees present significant limitations to mobility
Affordable prosthetic leg systems typically use single-axis knee joints - similar to a door hinge. While walking, particularly on rough terrain, they are unstable and can buckle, leading to a sudden and dangerous loss of balance.
