Purpose of the Department

The department of Prosthetics and Orthotics aim for the better prosthetics and orthotics service through clinical practices, researches and social services.

Staffs

Director           Dr. Yoshiko Tobimatsu (Orthopedist)

Chief               Nobuya Yamasaki (CPO)

                      Tomoki Mita (CPO)

                      Takashi Nakamura(CPO)

                      Tsutomu Kubo    (CPO)

                      Atsuko Mitsumoto (CPO)

*Certificated Prosthetist and Orthotist

6 Lecturers of the P and O college at NRCD are also included.

Clinical service 

Our department provides and repairs prostheses and orthoses.

As a national centre, we are supporting people with difficult cases, such as multiple amputations or an amputee having multiple diseases. We also are making prosthetics and orthotics for some special purposes.

* Trial for evaluation of mioelectronic upper limb prosthetics *
For people who lost limbs by working compensation, mioelectronic upper limb prosthetics has been provided on a trial basis since 2008.
NRCD is the one of medical cooperation institution for providing the service.

Research & Development

• Projects (only Japanese)
• Recent Reports
  • Sasaki, K., Kubo, T. Development of Dynamic Casting System (DCS) for Artificial Leg Socket Modeling Using Computer Interface. 13^th World Congress of the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics. 2010, Proceedings p.402-403.
  • Nakamura, T., Toyama, S. Socket Materials and Perspiration: Development of the Superabsorbent Polymer Socket Interface 13^th World Congress of the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics. 2010, Proceedings p.446-447.
  • Naito, H., Yamasaki, N., Aikawa, T., Inoue, T., Matsumoto, T., Tanaka, M. Gait Analysis of Newly Developed Hip Disarticulation Prosthesis Walking - Rotation Axis of Hip Joint is on the Side of Socket. 13^th World Congress of the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics. 2010, Proceedings p.672-973.
  • Naito, H., Nakamura, T., Hoshino, M., Maruyama, T., Computer Simulation of Walking Considering Foot Deformation. 13^th World Congress of the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics. 2010, Proceedings p.1085-1086.
  • Hobara, H., Kobayashi, Y., Naito, K., Nakamura, T., Yamazaki, N., Nakazawa, K. Biomechanical Analyses of Stair Ascent in Transfemoral Amputees. 13^th World Congress of the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics. 2010, Proceedings p.1117-1118.
  • Kawashima N, Mita T.　Metal bar prevents phantom limb motion: case study of an amputation patient who showed a profound change in the awareness of his phantom limb.　Neurocase. 2009 Dec;15(6):478-84.
  • Sasaki, K., Kubo, T. Development of dynamic casting system for artificial leg modeling. 12^th World Congress of the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics. 2007, Proceedings p.241.
  • Nakamura, T．Socket materials and perspiration : Effect of superabsorbent polymer as the socket interface．12^th World Congress of the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics. 2007，Proceedings p.215．
  • Hoshino, M., Nakamura, T., Aikawa, T., Goto, M., Ito, T., Negishi, K., Arizono, Y., Ooishi, G., Takashima, T., Development end evaluation of a prosthetic foot for elderly amputees. 12^th World Congress of the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics. 2007，Proceedings p.364．
  • Kawashima, N. and Mita, T. Invisible Metal Bar Prevents Phantom Limb’s Motion. 2nd Advances in Neurorehabilitation. Toronto, Canada, 2007-06, FICCDAT. 2007, CD-ROM.
  • Koike, M., Isihara, M., Akai, M., Aikawa, T., Yamasaki, N., Sasaki, K., Katou, N., Sibata, Y., Matuda, Y.“Development of a mechanical ankle joint for an artificial foot used as a ski prosthesis”. Conference Proceedings. 11th World Congress of the International Society for Prosthetics & Orthotics. Hong Kong, 2004-08-01/8-6. p.389.

Social services

The department of Prosthetics and Orthotics has cooperated below activities.

* International cooperation

[JICA group training course: Prosthetic and Orthotic Technique]

There are many people, who need prostheses and orthoses, caused by the war, working accidents, polio, tuberculosis or Hansen's disease at developing countries, such as Asia or Africa.
The department of prosthetics and Orthotics at NRCD have taken place the seminar for improve of senior PO technique through the JICA(Japan International Cooperation Agency) program.

The program is available on NCRD letter news (only Japanese)