Glossary of Prosthetic Terms

Above-knee: Prosthetic term for an amputation anywhere between the knee and the hip.  It can also be utilized to describe a prosthetic device, as in above-knee prosthesis or above knee prosthetic device or above-knee limb.

Adaptive 2 Knee: Microprocessor controlled prosthetic knee designed by Endolite; other microprocessor knees are the Otto Bock C-Leg microprocessor knee, Otto Bock Compact microprocessor knee and Ossur Rheo microprocessor knee.

AK: Abbreviation utilized in the Prosthetic industry for the term above-knee, as in above-knee amputation.  It can also be utilized to describe a prosthetic device, as in an AK prosthesis, AK prosthetic device or AK limb.

Amputation: Generic term to describe the surgical removal of a limb.  Typically this term is prefaced with a more detailed description of the exact location of the surgery, as in above- knee amputation or AK amputation.

Amputee: A prosthetic term to identify or describe an individual that has undergone an amputation procedure.   Typically this term is prefaced with a more detailed description of the exact location of the surgery, as in above-knee amputee or AK amputee.

Artificial Leg: The generic term for a prosthetic device.

C-Leg: Microprocessor controlled prosthetic knee designed by Otto Bock; other microprocessor knees are the Otto Bock Compact prosthetic microprocessor knee, Endolite Adaptive 2 microprocessor prosthetic knee, and Ossur Rheo microprocessor prosthetic knee.

Compact Knee: Microprocessor controlled prosthetic knee designed by Otto Bock; other microprocessor knees are the Otto Bock C-Leg microprocessor prosthetic knee, Endolite Adaptive 2 microprocessor prosthetic knee, and Ossur Rheo microprocessor prosthetic knee.

Computer knee: Generic name for a microprocessor prosthetic knee: examples of microprocessor knees are the Otto Bock
C-Leg microprocessor prosthetic knee, Otto Bock Compact microprocessor prosthetic knee, Endolite Adaptive 2 microprocessor prosthetic knee and the Ossur Rheo microprocessor knee.

Computer prosthesis: Generic name for prosthetic knee device, specifically an above-knee prosthesis or above knee (AK) artificial limb that utilizes a microprocessor prosthetic knee: examples of microprocessor prosthetic knees are the Otto Bock C-Leg microprocessor prosthetic knee, Otto Bock Compact microprocessor prosthetic knee, Endolite Adaptive 2 microprocessor prosthetic knee, and the Ossur Rheo microprocessor knee.

Endolite: Name of a line of prosthetic components designed by the Blacthford Company in England. The Adaptive knee is a microprocessor controlled prosthetic knee in the Endolite line. Other manufacturers of microprocessor prosthetic knees are Otto Bock who makes the Compact and the C-Leg microprocessor prosthetic knees, and Ossur who makes the Rheo microprocessor prosthetic knee.

Microprocessor  prosthesis: Generic name for an above knee prosthesis (or AK Prosthesis) that utilizes a  microprocessor prosthetic knee: examples of microprocessor prosthetic knees are the Otto Bock C-Leg microprocessor prosthetic knee, Otto Bock Compact microprocessor prosthetic knee, Endolite 2 Adaptive microprocessor prosthetic knee and Ossur Rheo microprocessor prosthetic knee.

Microprocessor knee: Generic name for an above-knee prosthetic knee component (or AK Prosthetic knee component) that utilizes a  microprocessor prosthetic knee. Examples of microprocessor prosthetic knees are the Otto Bock C-Leg microprocessor prosthetic knee, Otto Bock Compact microprocessor prosthetic knee, Endolite Adaptive 2 microprocessor prosthetic knee, and the Ossur Rheo microprocessor prosthetic knee.

Ossur: Name of a prosthetic company that designs and manufactures prosthetic and orthotic components. Ossur designs and manufactures the Rheo microprocessor prosthetic knee. Other manufacturers of microprocessor prosthetic knees are Otto Bock who makes the Compact and the C-Leg microprocessor prosthetic knees and Blatchford who makes the Endolite 2 Adaptive microprocessor prosthetic knee.

Otto Bock: Name of a prosthetic company that designs and manufactures prosthetic and orthotic components. Otto Bock designs and manufactures the C-Leg microprocessor prosthetic knee and the Compact Microprocessor prosthetic knee. Other manufacturers of microprocessor prosthetic knees are Ossur who makes the Rheo microprocessor prosthetic knee and Blatchford who makes the Endolite Adaptive 2 microprocessor prosthetic knee.

Prostheses: The plural of the word Prosthesis.  Prosthesis is the technical term for an artificial limb.  Typically this term is prefaced with a more detailed description of the exact type of prosthesis being identified: as in above-Knee prosthesis or AK prosthesis.  In addition, a preface can also be utilized to identify the type of components being utilized to design and fabricate the prosthesis, as in microprocessor knee prosthesis”.

The man lost both legs, and therefore he had two microprocessor prostheses, one for the left leg and one for the right.

Prosthesis:  Technical term for an artificial limb.  Typically this term is prefaced with a more detailed description of the exact type of prosthesis being identified: as in above-Knee prosthesis” or AK prosthesis.  In addition, a preface can also be utilized to identify the type of components being utilized to design and fabricate the prosthesis, as in microprocessor knee prosthesis”.  

After having his leg amputated above the knee, the man was now an AK amputee and was fit with microprocessor prosthesis.

Prosthetic: Technical term for describing a device associated with an artificial limb.

After having his leg amputated above the knee, the man was now an AK amputee and was fit with a prosthetic device that contained a microprocessor knee.

Prosthetics: Technical term referring to the science and study related to designing, fabricating artificial limbs

After having his leg amputated above the knee, the man was now an AK amputee and had an artificial limb with a microprocessor made by a person who studied and specialized in the field of prosthetics.

Prosthetist: A person trained to design, fabricate and fit artificial limbs.

After having his leg amputated above the knee, the man was now an AK amputee and had an artificial limb with a microprocessor made by a prosthetist.

Rheo: Microprocessor controlled prosthetic knee designed by Ossur. Other microprocessor knees are the Otto Bock C-Leg microprocessor knee, Otto Bock Compact microprocessor knee and the Endolite Adaptive 2 microprocessor knee.

Trans-femoral:  Term that refers to an amputation between the knee and the hip.  It can also be utilized to describe a prosthetic device, as in trans-femoral prosthesis or trans-femoral prosthetic device or trans-femoral limb.  It can also be properly spelled as transfemoral.