Date(s):
02/11/2017|Time: 18:30 - 21:30
Location: East Building Lecture Theatre University of Bath Claverton Down Bath BA2 7AY
Organised by: Designability
Tel: 01225 383659 or 01225 824103
Email: carolinegrange@designability.org.uk
Event summary
Join Designability at their 49th Annual Lecture as they launch their forthcoming 50th anniversary year with a special talk from Sir Saeed Zahedi on designing prosthetics to transform lives.
Meet the person behind the world’s first fully integrated limb system
Sir Saeed Zahedi has over 30 years of experience in the field of prosthetics and has created outstanding results for many thousands of amputees around the world, giving them back the opportunity to live their lives to the fullest.
He was responsible for the commercialisation of the first Intelligent Prosthesis in the early 1990s and the world’s first fully integrated limb system, Linx, in 2014. In this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours List, he was named to receive a Knighthood for his outstanding services to Innovation and Engineering in the field of rehabilitation.
Sir Saeed Zahedi is a multi-award winning author and presenter of over 125 papers, books and scientific publications and 35 patents.
Enabling independence for amputees and people with neuromuscular conditions
Sir Saeed Zahedi is the Technical Director of Blatchford, a global company who develops and manufactures orthopaedic products that offer the best possible mobility, function, comfort and cosmetics after amputation or other pathology.
For over 127 years, Blatchford has been involved in design and development of assistive technologies for mobility. Their main focus has been enabling independence and social participation for lower limb amputees and real living for people with neuromuscular conditions. The reward has been witnessing renaissance in application of technology that has transformed lives.
Designing affordable, customised bespoke devices for all
The London 2012 Paralympic Games left a legacy of sustainable high profile Paralympians. London 2017 proved that the public’s perception of prosthetic and disability is changed for good. The vision for Blatchford, as set out by first application of engineering in medicine over 50 years ago, is now rapidly manifesting as affordable customised bespoke devices for all, with increased accessibility by all, to provide a benefit for all.
Smart prosthetics requires a different engineering focus, as the challenges involved in developing an intelligent integrated lower limb prosthesis that mimics the functional characteristics of a human limb, requires application of biomimetic principle of lower limb joints and segments as well as their mimicking the effect of neuro muscular connectivity. This evolution of technology and expectation has the potential of imagining superior human performance. It is crucial to holistic view of the technology, balancing the user’s need, acceptability and personal experiences. Hence the look and feel of the device is as important as the functionality, impacting on both the public perception of the products and on individuals and commissioners decision to purchase.
About Designability
Designability aims to transform lives by creating life-changing products that redefine the experience and perception of disability and ageing.
FREE parking is available after 17.30 in East Building Car Park, University of Bath.
