News
Bill Sampson Interviewed on WAMC-FM
Bill Sampson and Sampson's patient Ned Foote discussed the C-Leg® Microprocessor-Controlled Knee, Genium™ Bionic Prosthetic System and Otto Bock RoadShow on WAMC-FM in Albany, N.Y.
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Otto Bock Genium Bionic Prosthetic System In the News
Bill Sampson and Mike Tallman, who wears the Otto Bock Genium Bionic Prosthetic System, were recently featured on WNYT NewsChannel 13.
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Breakthrough Prosthetic Knee System and Socket Technology Now Available to Patients at Sampson's
Sampson's Technician Mike Tallman Experiences New Levels of Mobility and Comfort from Otto Bock's Genium Bionic Prosthetic System and biodesigns inc. High-Fidelity Interface
Sampson's Prosthetic & Orthotic Laboratory is the first in the region and among the first in the country to offer its patients a one-of-a-kind prosthetic knee, the Genium™ Bionic Prosthetic System from Otto Bock HealthCare. Sampson's also recently became licensed to fit biodesigns inc. High-Fidelity Interface.
The result of extensive research and development, the Genium is built on an entirely new prosthetic technology platform. This groundbreaking technology helps the user make quick, complex movements, easily step over obstacles, and even ascend stairs, step-over-step.
Sampson's has been a participant in the research and development of the Genium and. Sampson's technician Mike Tallman, an amputee, has been field testing the leg since mid 2010. Otto Bock also tapped Bill Sampson, CP, to be among the first practitioners to become certified in fitting the Genium.
The Genium offers a knee angle of 135 degrees, which is a normal range of motion for the able-bodied. "It's really a great product," Mike said, noting that his gait is smoother, he can take longer strides, step-over-step ascending stairways, and walk backwards, functions not possible with other microprocessor knees. Modes for different activities include in-line skating, downhill skiing, snowboarding, and cycling (both motor and pedal).
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New High-Fidelity Interface Keeps Youth Camp Outreach Coordinator on His Toes
Innovative Socket Design Provides New Level of Comfort
When Scott Liloia, 28, interacts with youngsters who have chronic or life-threatening conditions, amputations, or other trauma, he can relate to them in a special way. You wouldn't know it by watching him lead campers in song and dance, or transversing the grounds of the Double H Ranch: A Hole in the Wall Camp in the Adirondacks, but Scott is an amputee and has been one since he was two months old.
Scott's mobility is enhanced not only by the microprocessor-controlled C-Leg, but also by a new socket system, the High-Fidelity (HiFi) Interface, developed by Southern California- based biodesigns inc.
Scott obtained his first HiFi when he resided in California and Randy Alley, CEO and chief prosthetist of biodesigns was his practitioner. Since returning to the Capitol Region to be closer to his family, Scott became a patient of Bill Sampson, CP. Bill is licensed and trained to fit the HiFi and several Sampson's Orthotic & Prosthetic Lab patients are already experiencing higher levels of comfort and mobility by wearing it.
Bill explains the HiFi Interface for both upper and lower limb applications offers a radical departure from the traditional model because it provides a high level of intrinsic bone control. The term High Fidelity refers to the precision with which the interface captures and reproduces skeletal motion.
"In a traditional socket design, a patient's soft tissue is simply encapsulated by the socket, restricting the amount of control it can impart upon the bone buried beneath the soft tissue," Bill said. "The HiFi Interface addresses that with a four-bar compression strut system, which utilizes alternating zones of compression and tissue relief on the leg and is able to compress the soft tissue and get closer to the bone, making it more responsive and controllable, as well as more comfortable. "
"I'm lucky to have found Bill and that he was able to fit me with the socket. The HiFi definitely gives me more stability, " said Scott. "What I also liked about working with Bill is that he really focused on making things better for me. One of the things he did was video-tape me walking. I lost my leg at such a young age and I don't have an idea of what it feels like or looks like to walk normally, so having the visual enabled me to see my gait before the HiFi and after. I saw how the HiFi keeps my leg more stable. With past legs, I had to be conscious of keeping it under me and pulling it in. With the HiFi, My leg movements are quicker and more responsive so when I'm chasing kids around the dining hall and they stop suddenly – it helps with those types of things. Dancing, too, " he said.
Scott's job as Hospital Outreach Coordinator for the Double H Ranch has him on the road quite a bit, visiting hospitals throughout the Northeast, bringing the summer camp experience to children in hospital playrooms and to their bedside. He interacts with patients, doing many of the same things on-site campers do, such as arts & crafts, science experiments, fishing in a portable pond and even the magic of sitting by a (simulated) campfire.
"I've had awesome conversations with kids just asking about things I've done and how I've done them," Scott said. "I've grown up not knowing anything different (than being an amputee). I don't even think about it. Not letting it stop me from doing anything is how I live my life. "
For more information about the High Fidelity Interface, contact Bill Sampson.
