Ditch Your Crutches
Reported March 2008
LANGHORNE, Pa. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Maybe you've been there -- a sports injury, a car accident or a mishap at home. Next thing you know, your broken or fractured bones are wrapped in a cast for weeks. Now, a retired firefighter has invented a new type of cast that helps the injured ditch their crutches for short stints so they can get up and go.
Four years ago, Bob Bentivegna needed a cast to allow a fractured ankle bone to heal. A day later, Bentivegna begged his doctor to cut the cast off. He said it was impossible to get around.
"I had no relationship with those crutches. I made up my mind I wasn't going to walk around on them for six weeks … couldn't," says Bentivegna.
So Bentivegna began looking for a way to bear weight on his cast. In his basement workshop, he removed the padded headrest from exercise equipment, and attached four bungee cords to it. He anchored the contraption to his leg using a vaccuum cleaner belt. That's how he walked around for six weeks.
"When I was re-MRI'ed they discovered that there was no disunion. The ankle had actually healed," says Bentivegna.
That's when he launched the idea for what he calls the "cast skate" -- a lightweight appliance that attaches to a plaster or fiberglass cast. The cast skate absorbs impact, distributes weight, and protects the cast from wear and tear.
The cast skate attaches to the leg with adjustable straps, giving it the appearance of a skate -- without the wheels.
The wearer then inflates a foam insert in the sole of the cast skate, stabilizing it.
Podiatrist Dr. Gregory Parker has had patients grumble when he hands them crutches. He likes the theory behind the cast skate.
"Essentially, if you put your foot into a big pillow and plant it on the ground, it's gonna disperse the weight evenly. That's what this looks like it aims to do," says Gregory Parker, D.P.M., from Langhorne, Pa.
Biomedical engineering, born out of necessity, may soon help patients get around easier. Bentivegna says the cast skate has been issued a patent and he is currently talking to manufacturers willing to produce it.
Click here to Go Inside This Science or contact:
Bob Bentivegna
(732) 505-8084
bobbentivegna@aol.com
|
This Month's TV Reports
Detecting Carbon MonoxideA lethally high level of carbon monoxide in the blood is to blame for countless mysterious deaths. Now, a new test can tell quickly if you've been contaminated.
Building the Perfect NoseCancer patients and accident victims are getting a second chance to see the faces they lost.
Better Treatment for Torn AortasWhen the aorta tears it's a life-threatening condition. Now, survivors have a better chance of regaining a normal life.
Ditch Your Crutches!Crutches are a pain in the neck … and the armpit! This invention may put those crutches in the closet for good.
High-tech ClassroomNo more textbooks or binders for these tech-savvy students. They've got everything they need at the touch of a screen.
Dangerous DecibelsIt's no secret that teens like their music loud. But how loud is too loud? This young girl is putting her peers to the test.
New Meth TestMeth labs are raided everywhere from inner cities to suburbia. This new test is making it safer for law enforcement to get down to business.
How Safe is this Bridge?An aging bridge poses a threat to millions of drivers everyday. Now, new technology can alert engineers when a bridge is about to give way.
Watch Where You Walk, Soldier!We all know the dangers of driving distracted, but did you know walking distracted could be just as dangerous?
Clean up That Moldy Mess!It's easy to recognize … that moldy, musty smell that makes us all cringe. But when does that unpleasant smell become dangerous?
Kids Discovering New AsteroidsThese young astronomers don't even have their diplomas but they're already making their mark in the sky.
Moon RoverThis rough and tumble rover makes trekking through sub-zero temperatures over treacherous terrain look like a walk in the park.
Prior Reports
|
