For centuries prostheses have been used to treat amputation stumps. Until today the adjustment of such prostheses can only be based on the technical knowledge of the treating doctor and the subjective senses of the patient. MRI and other scanning technologies are slowly integrated in the difficult process of building modern prostheses, still leaving the fine adjustments afterwards to the orthopaedist. Even nowadays the adjustments of prostheses are time consuming and often require a lot of sessions until completion.

A project, which started in September 2008, is run to find an objective method, using pressure distribution, to optimize the process of adjusting prostheses. In cooperation with the Munich orthopaedic company Gottinger Orthopädietechnik GmbH modern CATCAM- and MAS-prostheses are measured with the pliance system by novel.

At the moment the system used for the measurements contains four strip sensors with 1x10 sensors and four sensor mats with 3x15 sensors. Besides above-knee prostheses, the system can also be used to measure a great variety of other prostheses and bracers. Thanks to the flexibility of the sensors, they perfectly conform to curved surfaces.

Since the first measurements, the pliance system by novel showed its ability to measure critical areas in the prosthesis shaft fast and efficiently, during static and dynamic loading conditions. After only a few measurements, areas in need of adjustment can be easily found. Even hurtful pressure peeks, which the patient often can’t locate exactly, can be found. By using this measuring system, the orthopaedist can quickly find out where an adjustment is needed and can also prove the effectiveness of that adjustment.

Based on a new sensor design it is possible to measure the interaction in-between the passenger and parts of the car interior.

Better insight into the dynamic interaction of the driver with the safety belt system in a standardized lab environment as well as in a real driving situation is gained by this technology.

Please have a look at the videos.


1. Upper seat belt 3D-1(4MB)


2. Upper seat belt 3D -2(2MB)


3. Safety belt(2MB)

The sensors will be available on December 12th 2008.
They connect to the pedar -x or pliance-x 32 system and will need pliance software.

Please see some first videos.

1.x-country-ski_1_2d.wmv (4.3MB)

2.x-country-ski_1_3d.wmv (4.3MB)

pedar® posturo software
Regular posturography systems measure the time course of the Centre of Force (CoF). The shift of the CoF in the x and y direction over time is only calculated from the total force measured under both feet and does not describe the exact participation of each foot. By measuring the pressure distribution underneath the feet the pedar posturo system allows not only to measure the force balance between the left and the right foot but also to determine which part of the foot is contributing to the balance.

This is possible because the forces are calculated from many sensors arranged in a sensor matrix. Local forces such as those under the forefoot or toes and the heels can be measured and it can be analyzed how much they contribute to the dynamic balance of the body.The pedar posturo software calculates many parameters such as CoF/CoP, forces in masks, time processes, direction of motion, numerical excentri-city, area of CoF/CoP motion and more.

It is also possible to track the CoP of each individual foot in bipedal stance mode to analyze the motor function individually and compare it with unipedal stance.pedar® posturo hardware.

The pedar®-x posturo system is an accurate and reliable pressure distribution measuring system for monitoring local loads and total forces. The pedar®-x offers the ultimate versatility with its multiple standard features and operating modes.

The pedar®-x can be tethered to a PC via a fiber optic/USB cable. It can also function in a mobile capacity with its built-in BluetoothTM technology or, as yet another alternative, the pedar®-x system’s built-in flash memory storage allowing data to be collected anywhere and later downloaded to the computer.

The pedar®-x can be used not only for posturo-graphy but also for mobile pedography.
The pedar®-x system allows multiple synchronisation options to use with EMG and video systems. The pedar®-x can be started and synchronised by a small wireless remote control.

trublu® calibration device
With the aid of the new trublu® calibration device, all sensors of the pedar® posturo system are individually calibrated using a known air pressure.
This procedure is computer-assisted and can be performed in a short time.
Calibration guarantees accurate and reproducible data. The calibration curves, one for each sensor, can be checked by the user at any time.
This method guarantees the accuracy of the absolute values measured, not only for the distri-bution of dynamic body weight, but also for the local load on each area of the feet.
All sensor mats come calibrated and calibration can be tested at any time.

pedar® posturo sensor mats
- number of sensors 10x22 each
- sensor dimensions (mm) 20x20 each
- weight (gr) 500 each
- pressure range (kPa) 10 - 400
- frame rate (Hz) 40

pedar® posturo system:
Applications of pedar® posturo system
- neurology
- orthopaedics
- osteopathy
- aid in orthotic design
- rehabilitation assessment
- sport biomechanics
- biofeedback

109. New supporting bracers for transplanted arms on July 25. 2008

Until now the patient has no feeling in his arms and is bound to bed permanently.

Read more about it in the following links.
1. Medical News Today
2. Press release from the Klinikum rechts der Isar of the Technical University of Munich

To offer the patient more freedom it was planned to construct a corset with special bracers.

To avoid harmful pressure, the bracers designed by the Munich orthopaedic company Gottinger Orthopädietechnik GmbH were measured with a pliance sensor system by novel.
By quantifying the exact dynamic pressure, it was possible to minimize the contact pressure between arms and bracers and to increase the wearing comfort.

Thanks to the measurements a new and better construction was build, consisting of the bracers and a yoke for the shoulders, which allows the patient to move around freely.

The official website for the German Pavilion of People & Health 2008 is now online. The 13th congress exhibition "People & Health" will take place on 26 – 28 November 2008 at Information-Exhibition Center in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Since its creation the fair has established itself as the most important platform for dialogue on orthopaedics and orthopaedic technologies, orthopaedic footwear, prostheses, end prostheses and orthotics as well as rehabilitation in Russia. An expert audience to attend the fair promises the exhibitors to have profitable bargains and has leaded the fair to an escalating growth during the previous years.

Please visit the above link to find out more about the German exhibitors including us, novel GmbH.

13th International Healthcare Exhibition “Hospital 2008” was held at Lenexpo Exhibition Centre in St. Petersburg, Russia 30th September – 2nd October, 2008.

More than 100 companies from Russia, 6 - from Germany as well as companies from Ukraine, Latvia, Italy, Finland, and China participated in this Exhibition.

emed and pedar systems are well known in St. Petersburg now because these systems are used since 1997 for examination of patients with DM and MS, children for screening of feet disorders with deformities, in concert with orthopaedic shoes and orthopaedic insoles selection.

Visitors of our booth were mostly the orthopaedists and prosthetists, managers from St. Petersburg hospitals, outpatient departments, and from different medical centers. Several visitors came from different areas of Russia. More than 50 visitors were examined with emed-at 25 system and received consultation of experienced orthopedist.

Several visitors were interested in using novel systems with milling machines.

2nd International Symposium and Exhibition “Diabetic Foot: Surgery, Therapy, Rehabilitation” was held in St. Petersburg, Russia on October 3rd – 5th, 2008.
Symposium and Exhibition “Diabetic Foot” became one of the main events in medical life of Russia.

During first 2 days more than 120 participants visited novel booth. Surgeons, podiatricians, endocrinologists, orthopaedists, and managers from Saint-Petersburg, Moscow and from more than 40 areas of Russia, as well as from Armenia, Ukraine, Republic Belarus, Latvia, USA, Nepal and other countries were our visitors.

Geography of areas is vast: Archangelsk, Astrahan, Belgorod, Chelyabinsk, Cherepovec, Ekaterinburg, Electrostal, Elista, Ijevsk, Ivanovo, Yaroslavl, Kamchatka, Kemerovo, Kirov, Kurgan, Maykop Nevinnomisk, Nizshny Novgorod, Obninsk, Omsk, Orenburg, Penza, Petrozavodsk, Ribinsk, Ryazan, Sahalinsk, Samara, Saratov, Sarov, Siktivkar, Smolensk, Stavropol, Tomsk, Tula, Tumen, Tver, Velikiy Novgorod, Ufa, Vladimir, Voronezsh, Vologda, Vladikavkaz, Ulianovsk, Ust-Kamenogorsk.

About 30 visitors were examined with emed-at 25 system to know what information about patient feet can give pedograhic examination.

Interest to use novel systems with milling machines was met.

The purpose of ESMAC (the European Society of Movement Analysis for Adults and Children) is to stimulate and advance scientific knowledge, professional interaction and the exchange of ideas among Society members relating to movement analysis in adults and children in clinical and research settings. The Society holds an annual scientific meeting which is normally preceded by an instructional course for gait analysis.

For more information about this year´s meeting, please visit their homepage.

100. pedar-x user lights up the Olympic flame at the opening ceremony of Beijiing Olympics (Sept 01, 2008)

It was very impressive indeed to see the opening ceremony of Beijing Olympics while the Chinese athlete, Mr. Li Ning (45), the Chairman of Li-Ning Sports, lit up the Olympic flame.

As many other novel customers in China, Li-Ning Sports uses the pedar -x system and is the No. 1 company for sportswear in China, similarly to Adidas in Germany or Nike in the USA.

Mr. Li Ning is one of the most outstanding athletes of the 20th century who won three gold, two silver and one bronze medals in men's artistic gymnastics at the 23rd Los Angeles Olympic Games in 1984. After retiring in 1989 from his sport, Mr. Li Ning initiated the idea of LI-NING brand with the goal of creating the first international sportswear brand in China.

Please click here(http://www.lining.com) for further information about Li-Ning Sports.

99. ESM 2008 has successfully its finale in Dundee, Scotland, 28. ~ 31.07.2008 (Sept 01, 2008)

http://www.muenchen-rangers.de/football

See the test video with pedar here:(WMV file, 2 MB)

Due to heavy thunderstorms on Wednesday the first tests had to be done indoors

Balance and ground reaction forces were measured with the pedar system

Sensors were also placed on the shoulders to measure the body contact forces

First tests show that body contact pressures go higher than 6 bars.

More testing will be done very soon. The coaches showed big interest in the results. We hope for fine weather.....

The winner for the complete pedar system you will find under Multimedia/videos as video no. 30.

The winner for the complete scientific software package you will find under Multimedia/videos as video no. 60.


"Make sure everything is right! "


"Difficult choice!"


"Good smell"


"It's the software winner! Who is number 18?"


" At least, number 133 wins the pedar system!"

There appeared an two-page Editor´s Comment about the pliance horse system on the May 2008 issue of EQUESTRIAN Business Monthly. A part of the Editor´s Comment is quoted as follows.
http://www.ebmonthly.co.uk/images/NEWS/May_EBM_NEWS_4%265.pdf
"...The joint purchace of a "Pliance´pressure testing system by the Society of Master Saddlers and the British Equestrian Federation represents an exciting opportunity for the UK to be at the forefront of saddlery technology - the system is described as 'the beginning of a new era in the dynamic assessement of the interaction between the horse, the saddle and rider'..."

To continue with the article please visit EQUESTRIAN Business Monthly online.

Please have a look at the new saddle testing videos.

1."Caprice_1.wmv"
2. "Caprice_3.wmv"
3. "Leo_7.wmv"

1. A soccer protocoll test shown on youtube by University of Pavia and Ergovisionlab, in Italy

2. Interview Prof.Mauro Testa University of Pavia about the new Lotto soccer shoe for Luca Toni

3. The new football shoes LOTTO twist'n go on youtube

This year's conference focuses on providing diabetic foot information that attendees can take back home and put to practical use in their clinical settings. Among the topics covered this year are wound healing, ulceration prevention, open versus endovascular surgery, the emerging subspecialty of limb preservation, diabetic neuropathy, revascularization, stem cell therapies and practical tips on treating diabetic foot ulcers by master clinicians.

In addition to getting the latest information on diabetic foot research and care, attendees can take advantage of all the cultural, shopping and beach attractions of Los Angeles and Southern California. Internationally known chef Wolfgang Puck caters conference food and beverages.

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is served by 90 airlines and has direct and nonstop international flights from dozens of countries. The DFCon headquarters hotel is just 20 minutes away, and there's no need to rent a car. Deluxe accommodations at the stylish Hollywood Renaissance Hotel are available at US$209, single or double.

George Andros, MD, and David G. Armstrong, DPM, PhD, are co-chairmen of the conference.

More information about DFCon 08 and online registration are available at www.DFCon.com.