Established in 1969, the prestigious MacRobert Award is regarded as the leading prize recognizing innovation in U.K. engineering.
Amputees frequently experience back pain and difficulties on various terrain and require a higher cognitive and energy demand as they plan and analyze every step.
Linx represents ground-breaking technology within the prosthetics industry as it continuously shares information between the knee and foot to adapt automatically to changing terrains and circumstances, allowing users more freedom, confidence, and stability. The replication of natural motion is at the heart of Blatchford’s design philosophy, and Linx represents the beginning of the development of intuitive and integrated prosthetic limb systems.
Stephen Blatchford, executive chairman, commented, “I am delighted that we have been selected as the winner of the 2016 MacRobert Award for Innovation in Engineering. This is the premier engineering award to win and it is a tremendous testament to all of the innovation, hard work, and effort that has gone into producing the Linx integrated limb system by all of the engineers working on the project. Linx is the first prosthetic leg where information from the foot and knee sensors is used together as Linx evaluates how best to support what the user wants to do and react accordingly. It has helped a large number of amputees live more independent and active lives and the MacRobert Award is a fantastic recognition of this.”
Blatchford was a MacRobert Award finalist in 2010 for the Endolite Echelon hydraulic ankle.