Larne student’s award-winning design for adjustable prosthetic limb

A Larne student has picked up two awards and a cash prize thanks to his innovative design for an adjustable prosthetic limb.
Chris Miskelly.Chris Miskelly.
Chris Miskelly.

Chris Miskelly won Best Idea from the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, as well as the Best Overall Business Idea in the Queen’s University Belfast competition ‘What’s the Big Idea?’

The annual contest is run by the Enterprise SU department at Queen’s Students’ Union.

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A former pupil of Toreagh Primary School and Larne Grammar, Chris is currently in his final year of a Masters Degree in Product Design Engineering.

Although forming part of his final year project, Chris initially came up with the idea during his second year at Queen’s.

“I always had it in my mind that it was something I wanted to do, but it was put on the back burner until we were given the opportunity to pick our final year projects,” said the 23-year-old.

During the course of his research, Chris discovered that the need for prosthetics, particularly in the case of trans-tibial or ‘below-knee’ amputation, was greater in less economically developed areas of the world.

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“These areas of the world also seem to have a lack of the infrastructure needed to deliver prosthetic limbs,” Chris added.

With paediatric patients in mind, Chris’s design allows for the artificial limb to be adjusted in line with a child’s growth, alongside other adaptability measures.

The award-winning design, currently at the prototype stage, also netted Chris a £700 bursary - funds which will themselves go back into the project.

The local man said he hopes to seek business advice to take his design forward.

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