STAT+: Bionic knee developed by MIT researchers gives amputees a new world of motion
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Thomas Gee, a former gymnast, used to do handstands, perform wheelies on his skateboard, and run around with his three young children. But in 2001, a marble-sized bump on his left leg swelled to the size of a football. Gee was diagnosed with soft tissue sarcoma, a form of cancer that required the amputation of his leg\u00a0above the knee<\/a>.<\/p>\n After his surgery, Gee remained active but switched to walking instead of running with his kids. His prosthetic leg had a suction fit and a hydraulic knee, but it was far from satisfactory.<\/p>\n \u201cI would fall at least once a month,\u201d Gee said. \u201cWhen you step on an uneven surface and the toe triggers the knee, all of a sudden there\u2019s no resistance anymore, and you just go right straight down.\u201d<\/p>\n Continue to STAT+ to read the full story\u2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n