<img style="float: right;" src="https://opedge.com/Content/OldArticles/images/2005-02_07/Innov-1.jpg" hspace="4" vspace="4" /> Although Ossur's Rheo Knee<sup>TM</sup> is expected to have its official global launch into the growing electronic knee market in February 2005, the Rheo Knee has already been featured by several US consumer publications. In July, <i>Business 2.0</i>, a monthly magazine about business, technology, and innovation, did an in-depth five-page article about Ossur and the Rheo for its special global issue on "The Most Innovative Companies in the World." That article was preceded by another in the <i>Wall Street Journal</i> with the headline "Bionic Knee 'Learns' How to Walk: New Prosthesis Is Designed To Adapt to the Movements of Users at Varying Speeds." In late fall, the Rheo Knee received two more accolades. It was featured in <i>Time</i> magazine's November 29 cover story "Most Amazing Inventions of 2004" and then selected for inclusion in <i>Fortune</i> magazine's prestigious end-of-year feature story, "The 25 Best Products of the Year." <i>Popular Mechanics'</i> December 13 issue included an article about the rehabilitation of guardsman Kevin Pannell who was on a routine foot patrol in Baghdad when an insurgents grenade blew away both of his legs. In one section of the five-part article, titled "Next Step," writers feature artificial limbs that incorporate electronics, high-tech materials, and sophisticated engineeringand Ossurs Rheo Knee received first mention. <img style="float: right;" src="https://opedge.com/Content/OldArticles/images/2005-02_07/Innov-2.jpg" hspace="4" vspace="4" /> On December 17, the Rheo Knee was featured on <i>The View</i>, an ABC morning talk show hosted by Barbara Walters. <i>The View's</i> producers selected the Rheo Knee from among <i>Time</i> magazines "Coolest Inventions of 2004" as one of the products to be showcased. Most recently, on December 27, the Rheo was presented by Dr. Sanjay Gupta on CNN's show, <i>American Morning</i>. <h4>Rheo's Development Phase</h4> In the product's development phase, Ossur worked closely during the summer of 2004 with a pre-selected group of prosthetists throughout North America in order to ensure the highest level of satisfaction and success with a limited number of Rheo Knees, the company explained. By September 2004, once Ossur had determined that the first launch phase was successful, the product became available to all practitioners upon request, with the caveat that appointments with Ossur's trainers could be scheduled in conjunction with the sale. According to amputees wearing the knee, the Rheo's most exciting advantage is the experience of "walking without resistance." It is most often praised for making it possible to walk freely with easy motion and less effort, thus reducing fatigue and oxygen consumption. <table class="clsTableCaption" style="float: right;"> <tbody> <tr> <td><img src="https://opedge.com/Content/OldArticles/images/2005-02_07/Innov-3.jpg" alt="Robert Kostner of Germany skates with Rheo Knee. The photographer was his prosthetist, Thomas Kipping." /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Robert Kostner of Germany skates with Rheo Knee. The photographer was his prosthetist, Thomas Kipping.</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> The Rheo Knee is the first artificially intelligent knee system with the ability to learn and adapt to its users movements, resulting in a continually improved and optimized performance, according to Ossur. Through the use of a microprocessor, integrated sensors, and an innovative magnetorheologic (MR) fluid actuator, the Rheo lets the user walk as nature intended, with a vastly improved mechanical gait, the company noted. The advanced sensor technology - sensing at the rate of 1,000 times per second - combined with the MR actuator, acting at the rate of 1,000 times per second, reads the user's position and activity and adjusts for the optimal degree of stability while walking and standing. <i>For more information about the Rheo Knee, contact Ossur's customer service representatives at 800.233.6263.</i>
<img style="float: right;" src="https://opedge.com/Content/OldArticles/images/2005-02_07/Innov-1.jpg" hspace="4" vspace="4" /> Although Ossur's Rheo Knee<sup>TM</sup> is expected to have its official global launch into the growing electronic knee market in February 2005, the Rheo Knee has already been featured by several US consumer publications. In July, <i>Business 2.0</i>, a monthly magazine about business, technology, and innovation, did an in-depth five-page article about Ossur and the Rheo for its special global issue on "The Most Innovative Companies in the World." That article was preceded by another in the <i>Wall Street Journal</i> with the headline "Bionic Knee 'Learns' How to Walk: New Prosthesis Is Designed To Adapt to the Movements of Users at Varying Speeds." In late fall, the Rheo Knee received two more accolades. It was featured in <i>Time</i> magazine's November 29 cover story "Most Amazing Inventions of 2004" and then selected for inclusion in <i>Fortune</i> magazine's prestigious end-of-year feature story, "The 25 Best Products of the Year." <i>Popular Mechanics'</i> December 13 issue included an article about the rehabilitation of guardsman Kevin Pannell who was on a routine foot patrol in Baghdad when an insurgents grenade blew away both of his legs. In one section of the five-part article, titled "Next Step," writers feature artificial limbs that incorporate electronics, high-tech materials, and sophisticated engineeringand Ossurs Rheo Knee received first mention. <img style="float: right;" src="https://opedge.com/Content/OldArticles/images/2005-02_07/Innov-2.jpg" hspace="4" vspace="4" /> On December 17, the Rheo Knee was featured on <i>The View</i>, an ABC morning talk show hosted by Barbara Walters. <i>The View's</i> producers selected the Rheo Knee from among <i>Time</i> magazines "Coolest Inventions of 2004" as one of the products to be showcased. Most recently, on December 27, the Rheo was presented by Dr. Sanjay Gupta on CNN's show, <i>American Morning</i>. <h4>Rheo's Development Phase</h4> In the product's development phase, Ossur worked closely during the summer of 2004 with a pre-selected group of prosthetists throughout North America in order to ensure the highest level of satisfaction and success with a limited number of Rheo Knees, the company explained. By September 2004, once Ossur had determined that the first launch phase was successful, the product became available to all practitioners upon request, with the caveat that appointments with Ossur's trainers could be scheduled in conjunction with the sale. According to amputees wearing the knee, the Rheo's most exciting advantage is the experience of "walking without resistance." It is most often praised for making it possible to walk freely with easy motion and less effort, thus reducing fatigue and oxygen consumption. <table class="clsTableCaption" style="float: right;"> <tbody> <tr> <td><img src="https://opedge.com/Content/OldArticles/images/2005-02_07/Innov-3.jpg" alt="Robert Kostner of Germany skates with Rheo Knee. The photographer was his prosthetist, Thomas Kipping." /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Robert Kostner of Germany skates with Rheo Knee. The photographer was his prosthetist, Thomas Kipping.</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> The Rheo Knee is the first artificially intelligent knee system with the ability to learn and adapt to its users movements, resulting in a continually improved and optimized performance, according to Ossur. Through the use of a microprocessor, integrated sensors, and an innovative magnetorheologic (MR) fluid actuator, the Rheo lets the user walk as nature intended, with a vastly improved mechanical gait, the company noted. The advanced sensor technology - sensing at the rate of 1,000 times per second - combined with the MR actuator, acting at the rate of 1,000 times per second, reads the user's position and activity and adjusts for the optimal degree of stability while walking and standing. <i>For more information about the Rheo Knee, contact Ossur's customer service representatives at 800.233.6263.</i>