Biological Consideration

Biology and Bioengineering

The running blade uses many considerations from nature, drawing from the functions of the human body as well as speedy animals to mimic the abilities of a real leg as it acts when someone runs. 

Modeling the Human Leg

Before the invention of the running blade, prosthetic legs mainly focused on modeling the human bone, providing structural support to the body and focusing on aesthetics, which works for walking but does not well support the running motion. Then, in the late 1970s, Van Phillips did something different: he began modeling the prosthetic leg with a focus on replicating ligaments and tendons. According to Triathlete, the blade focused on these structures for function: "These human structures are a key element of absorbing, storing, and releasing kinetic energy when running and jumping—when sprinting, a biological leg returns 249% of stored energy, propelling the body forward" (Lacke, 2020). As will be discussed more in the Design section, the blade replicates these functions with success.