Ossur PROPRIO FOOT Wins Design Award

The PROPRIO FOOT^TM from Ossur, headquartered in Reykjavik, Iceland, has walked away with a 2007 Medical Design Excellence Award (MDEA).

Sponsored by MD&DI(Medical Device & Diagnostic Industry) magazine and organized by Canon Communications LLC, MDEA is described as "the premier awards program for the medical technology community." Winners of the tenth annual Medical Design Excellence Awards (MDEA) competition were announced in the April issue of MD&DI.

A comprehensive review of the entries was performed by an impartial, multidisciplinary panel of third-party jurors with expertise in biomedical engineering, human factors, industrial design, medicine, and diagnostics. The 2007 jury selected 35 winners in ten medical product categories.

The PROPRIO FOOT, the latest in Ossur's Bionic Technology platform, "is the world's first motor-powered and intelligent prosthetic foot, a seamless fusion of electronics, mechanics, and human physiology that reduces the energy patients spend in reacting consciously to the environment," according to Ossur. The foot replaces muscle function that was lost due to an amputation, enabling amputees to perform normal, functional activities through sensor technology, patented artificial intelligence (AI) processes, and high-precision actuator technology, according to the company.

"We are delighted that the PROPRIO FOOT and Ossur's research and development have been acknowledged by this prestigious award," said Hilmar Janusson, global vice president of R&D. "The foot was launched in September 2006, and the U.S. Department of Defense and the VA [Department of Veterans Affairs] are both actively using it to benefit servicemen returning from the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts, as well as veterans of past wars. It is also quickly becoming the foot of choice for diabetic amputees all over the world."

The 2007 Medical Design Excellence Award winners will be honored at a ceremony during the Medical Design & Manufacturing (MD&M) East Conference and Exposition, June 12-14, 2007, at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, New York, New York. Gold and silver award recipients will be announced at that time.

According to its website, MDEA recognizes the achievements of medical device manufacturers, their suppliers, and the many people behind the scenes--engineers, scientists, designers, and clinicians--who are responsible for the groundbreaking innovations that are changing the face of healthcare. MDEA-winning entries excel in the areas of product innovation, design and engineering achievement, end-user benefit, and cost-effectiveness in manufacturing and healthcare delivery.

For more information about the MDEA Awards, visit at www.MDEAwards.com

For more information about Ossur, visit www.ossur.com