Developing a Durable Prosthetic Knee Joint

Developing a Durable Prosthetic Knee Joint Developing a Durable Prosthetic Knee Joint Developing a Durable Prosthetic Knee JointMillions of amputees across the worldmany of them in low-income countriesare in need of prosthetic devices. This is especially true for those who are missing legs and feet, because walking is often the main mode of travel in these regions. Because these countries are often impoverished and plagued by war, landmines, and poor medical care, there continues to be a significant unmet need for prosthetic devices.Roger V. Gonzalez, a mechanical and biomedical engineering professor at the University of Texas-El Paso, has set out to change this. He founded LIMBS International, a nonprofit that is committed to restoring mobility to millions of amputees around the world. Assisted by engineering students, LIMBS designs highly functional, innovative, sonder low-cost prosthetic devices.The initiative grew from a senior biomedical engineering project that challenged stude nts to design and build a durable, low-cost knee joint that would be part of an above-the-knee prosthesis. Another objective was making it simple enough that it could be fabricated locally in developing countries. Their design became the first prototype of what is known today as the Relief Knee.The injection-molded LIMBS Relief Knee. Image LIMBS InternationalHow the Relief Knee Is DifferentThe biggest difference between the Relief Knee and other knees on the market is its functionality. Field tests have shown the knee is more functional than single-axis and hinge designs. The Relief Knee is a four-bar, polycentric knee that is lightweight and stable, combining sophisticated design with low-cost, durable materials that are available in developing countries.The knee is totally mechanical, yet provides a stable stance environment when properly fitted, says Gonzalez. Polycentric knees have been around for a long time. The key is designing the knee so that inexpensive materials can be us ed and that it can repaired in the field. Being able to take apart and reassemble the knee if a part needs to be replaced is important. The knee can be easily be repaired in the field with materials available at a local hardware store and with the skill sets available in the developing world, many times by the patients themselves. This keeps the knee functional for years to come.Future PlansIn 2012, LIMBS established a research partnership with the University of Texas-El Paso. This provides qualified engineering students with opportunities to design, test, and implement new prosthetic components in these countries. An injection-molded Relief Knee will soon be available that enhances the durability and functionality of the current model, at lower cost.We are also working on various feet and arm designs, states Gonzalez. We take on the challenges from various approaches so we can hopefully have a multifaceted solution. Not one solution can meet the needs of the entire developing world . We aim to give the poorest of the poor some options that we take for granted here in the U.S.As LIMBS expands its product line, it will continue to improve functionalityand reduce costs.There are times when certain parts of the world would like components with more bells and whistles and we are looking at options to provide these, while still keeping costs very low, says Gonzalez. We are also working with other academic and industrial partners to develop joint programs to accelerate technological development and expand into areas that go beyond prosthetics, and even orthodics.For Gonzalez, the biggest surprise in designing prosthetics is the amount of attention that goes into working out the details, even with ultra-simple designs.It is the details that can kill a project, says Gonzalez. We have also learned that technology, as important as it is, is not enough. You have to couple it with a holistic approach to solving these vexing problems. We as engineers need to move beyond tec hnology to make a difference.Mark Crawford is an independent writer. For Further DiscussionThe knee can be easily repaired in the field with locally available materials and the skill sets available in the developing world- many times by the patients themselves.Roger V. Gonzalez, University of Texas-El Paso

3 Things To Give Up For A Successful Job Search (Pt 3)

3 Things To Give Up For A Successful Job Search (Pt 3)3 Things To Give Up For A Successful Job Search (Pt 3)Ive changed jobs about every 7 years, but it has never taken me more than three and a half months to find a job before. Im job-hunting now and this job search is much harder than the others. Ive been looking full-time for alfruchtwein eight months. Employers dont respond to my applications. I have 20 years of experience and a track record of more responsible positions over time, but I cant get to first base.Its normal and natural to compare the job search youre in right now to the job searches you successfully conducted before. The differences can be frustrating, though youre bringing more experience to the table, so it seems like youd be a more desirable candidate. In most cases, you have more personal and professional contacts in your network now than in years prior, but the network doesnt seem to be working for you this time around. And since you found a job the way you did last time, of course you take the same approach this time. Right? Well, no.Previously in this series, we talked about the importance of giving up compartmentalizing your search, giving up your need for someone elses permission, and giving up ignoring your vision for your future. I also laid out the importance of giving up the distractions you thought sounded good, but actually they dont work. I dont want you position yourself as being all things to all people. And get rid of the self-congratulatory resume fluff, in order to zoom in on what it is you actually do. There are a few more mindset shifts it will behoove you to make today so that you can have a successful job searchGive Up Presenting Every Blessed Thought You Have On Social MediaSocial media posts can get you fired. Weve seen it in the news time and again. And guess what your social media can also get you leid hired. I dont care how private you think your account settings are. Just.Stop.Talking.Whatever you posted and delet ed later was still seen by somebody. Not only was it seen if it was really offensive racially, sexually, or politically, I guarantee someone grabbed a screen shot. The Twitterverse is a real thing and its not something you want to find yourself caught up in.If someone posts something you feel you just cant resist firing back at, RESIST. Do you want to argue with someone, make your point heard, and be right? Or do you want to get employed? The choice really is that simple. So, familiarize yourself quickly with the following terms unfollow, snooze, and hide. On top of that, just scroll on by.Give Up Presenting What You Think You Should Present On Your ResumeTheres this magical thing that has the instant effect of lulling recruiters into a deep sleep your 20-line description of your job. I mean, it is almost literally the job description the company wrote, or the ad for the position you saw in the first place.Heres what that looks like, for example, for an operations manager, Lead tea m members through strategic thought and operating processes across multiple locations. Ensure every depot in the portfolio meets organization standards in people leadership, customer service, safety, quality, operational excellence and financial performance. Responsible for developing and coaching general managers to high performance andIm not going on after the and. Pretend I would have written 15 more lines of a lot of words that said nothing. The moral of the story is no one cares what the job is. Furthermore, in most cases, no one needs to have the job described to them. Fundamentally, we know what an operations manager does.The purpose of your resume is to showcase not the job, but YOU in the job big, big difference. After presenting a scope of responsibility of no more than 5-6 lines, get to every specific, quantified accomplishment and achievement you can muster.Give Up Presenting Your Job Search Story Like Every Step Is On The Road To HellI recently had a candidate say to m e (cue the woe is me) tone of voice, I just cant believe theres so little going on. Im still looking. I had a phone interview on Tuesday, an in-person second interview with a different organization on Wednesday, and earlier today a recruiter reached out to me about a role, so well see how that goes.Were the candidate and I in the same conversation? I heard three wins in one breath. But he was talking like his face was on the floor.Pick up your face off the floor. Not leveraging every small win you get is an attitude from which you need to divest yourself pronto. If youre interviewing, something is going right. Build on that make sure your follow-ups add value by showcasing what you know about what the organization is working on right now. Get connected and/or follow all the relevant people on LinkedIn, comment on their posts, and jump into their conversations. You have to stay top of mind with them.And when a recruiter or decision maker reaches out to you, dont treat it like it wil l probably go nowhere. Capitalize on that. If that position didnt initially strike you as a perfect match, proceed with the interaction anyway. You have no idea where a conversation or interview can lead it can very likely result in some other position in the company you wouldnt have ever known about otherwise.You know what youre in control of? Your thoughts. Therefore, turn those into the positive actions that will bring your job search to a successful conclusion sooner, not later. What you think does not have to be all over social media, and what you think the employer needs to know about the job itself actually doesnt matter all that much. fruchtwein importantly, what you think and the attitude you adopt throughout your search will absolutely make a difference.I continually endeavor to not just point out mindset shifts, but also map out specific action steps you can take today to move your job search in the direction you need. Make sure to join us for 5 Secret Job Search Hacks F or The Age 50+ Job-Hunter, so you can find out how to directly reach the decision makers, and how to let them know that your experience means you know more than the millennials they can hire for $10-$12/hour. You can come in and immediately know how the company can not lose money, not waste time, and actually capture more customers and revenue. Register to see the job search hacks today.

Starting a new job soon The tip that changed my life

Starting a new job soon The tip that changed my lifeStarting a new job soon The tip that changed my lifeHeres a tip that my ratgeber told me a few years ago before I started my most recent role and it CHANGED. MY. LIFE.I report to the CEO of the company I work at and he is incredibly busy and pretty hands-off of my work. So when I was starting my new role I decided to try this tip to impress him right off the bat.Here is what my mentor said Bosses are busy. Busy people like to react, not create.REACT. Not CREATE.What do MOST of us do when we see ur boss is super busy and stressed?We ask How can I help?Thats mighty fine.But what SHOULD we do?Find ways to contribute and give them something to REACT to.The tip is to create a reaction document. Which is a fancy way of saying a rough draft of ideas for a person to react to.The crazy thing is, even if what you come up with is wrong, and they want the complete opposite of what you came up with, that is still excellent progress. Because many busy leaders dont know exactly what they want until they have something to react to.Imagine if I told you to describe your perfect house.Youd have a lot going on in your, noggin may not know where to start. But then I put photos of 4 different houses in front of you and asked you which one you liked the best.Youd probably say, Well this one I like the best overall because of the windows and ceilings, but this other one has the best yard because I love trees and dont want a pool.And suddenly our conversation of designing the perfect house, made tremendous leaps and bounds forward because I gave you something to simply react to.Probably none of those 4 houses I presented to you in the reaction document are your dream house but it got us much closer.Warning DO NOT put lots of research and time into a project before your boss reacts. That is a huge waste of time because they may hate it. Im talking directly to you perfectionists out there. Get comfortable sharing documents before they are far from perfect.Now, youre probably asking, what does a real-world reaction document look like? Well, a reaction document can take many different forms, but it can feel daunting if youve never made one. Check out this video where I walk through an example of a reaction document.This has become a way of life for me all thanks to that mentor Wishing you the bestThis article originally appeared on Quora.