Telehealth strategies for remote prosthetic applications

This study implemented consumer-level, Internet-based video conferencing for remote configuration of the Otto Bock C-Leg prosthesis. After connecting the C-Leg to a computer, running the SLIDERS control software, and making an IP connection over NetMeeting, a prosthetist at the host site configured a client's C-Leg at the remote site. This protocol was repeated at various connect speeds. Successful C-Leg configurations were completed at all laboratory bandwidths; however, the 33 Kbps rate made the configuration process more difficult. Tests over the public Internet provided unacceptable results at 28 Kbps. Slow data transmission rates limited the "application shared" SLIDERS program from refreshing at a sufficient rate to keep up with the leg dynamics. Similar tests between Canada and China produced successful application sharing results over a broadband connection.