Secret Smile..

Robotic Ankle - Biomechatronics!

Joint effort: Robotic ankle research gets off on the right foot

Army vet demos MIT prosthesis; device is first of its kind

July 23, 2007

An Army veteran who lost part of his leg in Iraq walked with more spring in his step Monday as he unveiled the world's first robotic ankle -- an important advance for lower-limb amputees that was developed by a team at MIT.

Garth Stewart, 24, who lost his left leg below the knee in an explosion in Iraq, demonstrated the new powered ankle-foot prosthesis during a ceremony at the Providence, R.I., Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Stewart walked in the device, which, unlike any other, propels users forward using tendon-like springs and an electric motor. The prototype device reduces fatigue, improves balance and provides amputees with a more fluid gait. It could become commercially available as early as the summer of 2008.

MIT Media Lab Professor Hugh Herr and his team of researchers developed the ankle-foot. Herr, NEC Career Development Professor and head of the biomechatronics research group at the Media Lab, is a VA research investigator. He is also a double amputee who tested his invention: "This design releases three times the power of a conventional prosthesis to propel you forward and, for the first time, provides amputees with a truly humanlike gait," Herr said.

"It's wild," he said, "like you're on one of those moving walkways in the airport."

Because conventional prostheses only provide a passive spring response during walking, they force the amputee to have an unnatural gait and typically to expend some 30 percent more energy on walking than a non-amputee. The new ankle is light, flexible, and -- most importantly -- generates energy for walking beyond that which can be released from a spring alone.

This is accomplished through a device equipped with multiple springs and a small battery-powered motor. The energy produced from the forward motion of the person wearing the prosthesis is stored in the power-assisted spring, and then released as the foot pushes off. Additional mechanical energy is also added to help momentum.

Herr created the device through the Center for Restorative and Regenerative Medicine (CRRM), a collaborative research initiative that includes the Providence VA Medical Center, Brown University and MIT. The center's mission is to improve the lives of individuals with limb trauma through tissue restoration, advanced rehabilitation and new prosthetics that give amputees - particularly war veterans - better mobility and control of their limbs and reduce the discomfort and infections common with current prostheses.

To achieve this goal, the center funds a team of researchers with expertise in tissue engineering, orthopedics, neurotechnology, prosthetic design and rehabilitation. The aim is to bring these complementary techniques together to create "biohybrid" limbs composed of biological and man-made materials - a melding of man and machine.

To meet this goal, the VA has provided an additional $6.9 million to construct a state-of-the-art rehabilitation research building that will house the center on the campus of the Providence VA Medical Center. Construction begins this fall.

"A major goal of the center is to develop artificial limbs that perform like biological ones," said Professor Roy Aaron, M.D., of Brown University, director of the CRRM. "Hugh Herr and his team have met that goal - and done so successfully. This device is a major step forward for Garth Stewart and other amputees."

Joel Kupersmith, M.D., chief research and development officer for VA, said a top priority for the department is providing state-of-the-art prosthetic care for veterans - especially those returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. VA research, he said, is integral to this effort.

"The robotic ankle is a sterling example of how our leading-edge research improves veterans' lives," Kupersmith said. "Up to now, prosthetic devices have not been able to duplicate the complex functions of our feet and ankles as we walk and run. The ingenious computerized design of this new prosthesis changes all of this, as it constantly 'thinks' and responds, allowing the person to walk or run in a more natural and comfortable way."

Michael E. Selzer, M.D., director of Rehabilitation Research and Development for VA, agreed: "Hugh Herr and his Media Lab group are well-known for their scientific ingenuity and creativity on behalf of amputees. This new technology represents rehabilitation research at its finest, and is yet another milestone in VA's long history of outstanding achievements in this area."

What's next? According to Herr, within the next year he hopes to get small, wireless implants into his muscles near the neuromuscular juncture, so that when the muscle contracts, the electrical impulse will send precise information to control the artificial limb. Looking longer term, Herr is working with Brown's Aaron to determine if an implant could be used to mechanically attach the artificial limb directly to the amputee's residual limb bone. The goal: to transmit loads directly to the bone structure of the amputee, eliminating the discomfort now experienced with conventional prostheses.

http://www.whynotislam.com/

check that out..

I'm Back

I'm back from my conference holiday in Malaysia n Singapore. A bit blues about starting back to work. I'll let you know more later. but for now.. i'm definitely back. :)

raya!!

ni raya kedua azah raya di Sydney. nak rasa dekat dgn mama n abah n adik2, dgn telefon je la.. :( nak buat camana.. dah jauh... mama ada kirim baju raya, amir pilihkan kasut raya, handbag yg sgt cantik, matching dgn kasut ;) dgn brooch rama2 sepasang kiri kanan... (hehe.. tgk la gamba tu.. > amir)

hari raya di Sydney ni ingatkan selasa jugak, rupa2 nya jatuh hari isnin. awal sehari. tak payah puasa hari isnin :)

asalnya plan nak pegi Msia Hall, macam tahun lepas, tapi sebab tahun ni Msia Hall buat open house malam selasa, tak dapat lah pegi. maybe sebab sekarang still dlm semester. budak2 belum cuti.. ada kelas lagi.. so, derang buat la petang - malam. malangnya, azah pulak yang ada kelas malam. kelas azah start 4.30 ptg-9mlm. camana?

hari raya pertama tu, kelas petang tu azah ada group presentation. biomechanics case study. 40% of final mark. takleh la main2. malam dpt tau esok raya tu, telefon kak yan. kak yan n suami n 4 anak2 derang ada di Lidcombe, baru 2 bulan, buat phd. so, azah pun dijemput lah ke rumah kak yan. raya la dgn derang.. makan sate, rendang, nasi impit.. hmm. sedapnya!!

anak2 derang kecik2 lagi. aina 10 thn, wawa 7 thn, atirah 5 thn, alif 4 thn (tu la yg gamba kat main page). sume lincah2, seronok layan. wawa bacakan azah buku cerita beauty and the beast, atirah asik berkepit dgn aiskrim dia, tanya itu ini.. hmm.. sweet je.

kitorang tgk citer rapunzel barbie, lepas tu tgk citer robin hood yg kevin coastner berlakon tu. teringat kat nieza, kawan sekolah azah, yg study kat nottingham. dulu masa pergi UK ada nieza bawak tgk istana robin hood tu. sebijik yg dlm movie tu. :)

hehe.. lpas pukul 2, mintak diri nak balik. anak2 kak yan peluk pinggang azah.. tenggelam.. :D lepas tu derang kata.. "kurusnya kakak ni!!" hahaha!!! masa pakai baju kurung tak nampak kurus agaknya.. tu la.. mmg azah kalau duduk sendiri dari thn lepas lagi, berat badan turun.. tahun lepas balik kampung, jumpa mak tok, mak tok tegur.. "kecut.. cucu mak tok ni.. " sayu je bunyi nya.. takpe.. yg penting badan sihat.. tak sakit2.. insyaAllah,..kurus ke tidak tu no 2. kan?

balik rumah, salin baju, n pergi kelas. ada presentation. esoknya, ada kelas lagi... begitulah raya saya di sini... tahun ini... :)

selamat hari raya, maaf zahir dan batin utk semua.. :)

my poster presentation in AAESS conference

hi everyone! this may be a little too technical, but I'm happy to tell you about the work I presented last weekend.

well.. I don't want to bore you with the details, but its about the exercise machine that I'm going to develop for paralysed people.

its not so much about the research, its about the oppurtunity to meet my Malaysian friends who lives close by UNSW. Many thanks to Azleen, whom I stayed at her place for the night of the conference, and to Aan, whom I stayed an extra night after the conference ended.

The other precious thing is to be able to join everyone for 'berbuka puasa' in Malaysia Hall, which is just 30 minutes walk from our homes. Seronokla dpt makan sedap, n dapat join the whole Malaysian for Solat Tarawikh for the weekend.

Run The Bridge , go go go!!!

So I went there to see the wheelchair session, supposedly I should be there 6.30am. Hahh!!! no matter how early I tried to get there, I couldnt arrive in time to see them..

I arrived later that morning and I dont see anymore wheelchair participants :(

But I get to see the other family fun run.. running cheerfully accross the famous Sydney Harbour Bridge through the highways and towards the famous Sydney Opera House. Yup, I guess I wasn't too late to catch the last bits of the Wheelchair Session, but too bad, I missed it.

You can see the huge crowd, even from the bridge.. all finishing thier run at the Opera House..

... see the tiny people from far?

But, hey! It was great fun anyway! The Marathon Session went a further long way, with routes spanding all over the city of Sydney. I didn;t expect an International participation, but the winner of the marathon was a guy from Kenya!! then another Kenya!! and a Germany!! and then an Oz!! phew.. they are all  panting all right!!

The other bunch of people I suppose only did the family fun run (the one from the Bridge to the Opera House I told you?) yup.. and you can see all the happy faces, with all the medals that some of them won.

Yup, It was great fun for me, just watching them! Well, these Aussies really love sports and running!! 

picnic dgn anak arab :-)

LALALA....!!!!

hehe.. last saturaday i joined hanan on her welcoming picnic with her supervisor's other students. that very supervisor has 8 students and all of them are Muslims. they are all from middle eastern countries, including 2 students from Makkah. My limited exposure of Makkah is only the 'Haram' - where we do our umrah , ziarah, and the whole Muslim perform our Hajj. I didn't know there were housing.. hehe.. silly me.. of course there is!

Well, as expected, all of them are at least married without children. I'm the only single girl there. =")

The kids are really cute, especially little Dana's sister, almost 2 years old. She is learning to step - balancing herself, and stepping cautiously. I found it really cute!

This one's my favourite. I just love her smile and her dark hair.. :)

So, do you find this girl cute?

Malaysia Fest

Dapat la.. makan sate.. 4 cucuk 5 dollar..     lain2 ada persembahan tarian melayu, dikir barat, ulek mayang, msian student band, nyanyi lagu negaraku pun ada. supanee ikut sekali! jumpa hanan n her hubby di Dataran Darling Harbour tu,

Crocodile Hunter!!

I was in class that evening when I learned Steve Irwin died doing what he loved - mingling with animals. He was filming a documentary on dangerous animals in Cairns, when he was struck by a poisonous stingray.

Being a student in Australia, I can't help but not feel the loss of the truly Australian icon. We never saw him without his green khakis suit. Him and his wife, Terri, and 8 years old daughter, Bindi, runs Australia Zoo in Queensland, Australia. Little Bindi did a good job adorably promoting Australia Zoo on TV! She's really cute and passionate about animals too. They have a 2 years old, almost 3, little Bob, who will grow up being ever proud of his daddy. Its a great loss to AUSTRALIA.

Irwin Was a Self-Made 'Wildlife Warrior'

Jennifer Viegas, Discovery News

Sept. 5, 2006 — Steve Irwin may have been best known for his wildly popular Crocodile Hunter series on Animal Planet, but he also dedicated a great deal of time and earnings to wildlife conservation efforts that many people — including some of his closest colleagues and friends — were unaware of.

  "Until his death, when we began to go over his work, I hadn't fully appreciated his commitment to conservation," Ginette Hemley, vice president for species conservation at the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), told Discovery News.

"Steve Irwin put his money where his mouth was at, and he often did this quietly and effectively with little or no promotion."

She explained that Irwin partnered with the WWF to fund endangered species conservation in Africa and Asia, where he provided "critical support" in Manas National Park, India. That funding was used, in part, to buy field equipment for workers patrolling the forests there against poachers.

Irwin took a special interest in saving tigers, since they remain one of the world's most endangered species.

In Africa, he also assisted the WWF with funding for projects to save cheetahs and other wildlife.

"His efforts got money to the ground level where it was most needed," Hemley said.

Irwin and his wife used money from their Crocodile Hunter earnings to buy wilderness lands in Fiji, Tasmania, the South Pacific island nation of Vanuatu and the United States.

In particular, Irwin was devoted to purchasing, and then salvaging, wilderness tracts in his homeland of Australia. There he bought a large region west of Brisbane near the Murray-Darling Basin.

He also purchased land near his Australia Zoo in Beerwah to save the habitats of tree-dwelling marsupials known as gliders, as well as wallabies, snakes, platypuses and other creatures, many native to Australia.

The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service said Irwin expressed an interest in helping its population recovery efforts for the northern hairy-nosed wombat.

Irwin also took on smaller projects, such as working with farmers to save an endangered species of python called the woma. His zoo actually paid farmers to report information about the snakes rather than kill them, as was once widely done.

Irwin described himself as "a man in a hurry" who wanted to accomplish as much as he could in his lifetime to save wildlife and support environmental causes.

During a 2003 interview with The Age in Australia, he said, "I consider myself a wildlife warrior. My mission is to save the world's endangered species."

Although his life was cut short by Monday's tragic accident, Irwin's work will continue, according to an announcement today by Michael Hornby, executive director of the Australia Zoo.

"We have an obligation now to do more, and through his legacy we hope more Australians and more people around the world will get into conservation," Hornby said on Australia's Channel 9 Today program.

He added, "Things like the culling of wildlife, which Steve was very passionate (against). That has to stop. We've got to create safer habitats. We've got to carry on the mantle."

Japanese Garden

Japanese Garden in Auburn? Tak tau pun.. ahaha..! Auburn is where i lived when I 1st came to australia to study. i stayed in Auburn Hospital Accommodation for 3 months before I moved to my new place in Lidcombe.

Last month, Hanan, from Malaysia came to study here in Health Science Faculty with me. Being the only malaysian malay student I know beside myself, we became close even before she arrived. her husband came with her for the 1st week, and we sent him off by the end of the week.

The coming week, Hanan got a place in Auburn too. I helped her move and spent the weekend with her. there, we visited a japanese garden I never knew was there before. After a whole year here in Sydney, a newcomer showed me a place i didnt know! hah! anyhow,its a beautiful place. with geese and swans, ducks, ostriches, emus, wallabies, few other animals, and the plants are just pretty. roses and sakura flowers filled the garden's landscape, with its red poles and paved walkways, just pretty.

just have a look at the pics. of course, a picture is worth a thousand words!

 

come on! click on the saakura flower to see a close up! dont be shy. im not asking you to look at ME! look at the flowers, girls!