BIOMEDICINE : New Artificial Leg Can Be Inflated, Deflated to Suit Amputee’s Activity

Shoes that can be pumped up with air to provide a perfect fit have been the rage on basketball courts around the country for the last couple of years. A widely seen series of advertisements urged viewers to “pump it up” and throw away their old shoes.

Now Flex-Foot Inc., a Laguna Hills supplier of high-tech prosthetics, has produced an artificial leg that can be pumped up or deflated to match the user’s particular energy needs at the time--whether they are taking a leisurely walk or pounding the hardwood floors of the nearest basketball court.

For low-energy activities such as walking, the air pressure in the Air-Flex artificial limb can be reduced, giving the user a soft feel and a smooth, rolling effect from heel to toe.

For tennis, basketball, running or other athletic pursuits, a stiffer, springier feel can be created by pumping more air into the limb’s air valve with a small hand pump.

“Air-Flex gives amputees control over their artificial leg,” said Van Phillips, inventor and research prosthetist for Flex-Foot.