In the short amount of time I had tested it, I was already becoming confident in my new knee. I wanted to use it as much as possible. In the month I ve been wearing the leg, I ve noticed such a difference. Using special software and a personal computer, fine adjustments are made to tailor the C-LEG to the amputee. Angles and pressures on the leg are measured constantly from five separate positions to ensure a dynamic gait as similar to natural walking as possible, Bill Sampson noted.
Amputees can more easily tackle slopes, stairs and other uneven terrain.
A warning vibration is activated in the knee when the battery begins to run low on power. If the battery runs out of power, the knee will automatically default to a straight-leg position, ensuring that it will be stable enough to hold up the wearer. The batteries can be fully charged in two hours, or in 15 minutes receive a charge sufficient for five hours. In addition to the standard 110 volt charger, a special DC charger, adaptable to car cigarette lighters, can be used. I tested the effectiveness of the cigarette lighter charger a few weeks ago when I intentionally let the battery run low.