# Improved Amputee Quality of Life Enabled by Tailored, Self-Regenerating Energy Storage Device For Powered Prosthetics

> **NIH NIH R44** · GINER, INC. · 2020 · $975,417

## Abstract

Powered, motorized prosthetics enable users to more naturally perform tasks, such as climbing stairs or rising
from a seated position. However because the power requirements fluctuate during the gait cycle; the current
battery system is not energy efficient and also since energy is dissipated through a shunt resistor when the
motor slows and changes direction. As a result the battery is (over)designed to accommodate necessary
spikes in power draw. Improvements to the power system to efficiently recover energy and provide power
spikes would enable smaller, lighter prostheses with longer use on one battery charge.
The overall objective of the Fast Track Phase I/II SBIR program is to develop energy storage device,
containing Giner’s tailored Lithium Ion Battery (LIB) and solid-state capacitor, specifically designed to harvest
energy pulses generated during braking of the joint motors in a powered prosthetic. Giner’s proposed Battery-
Capacitor Hybrid (BCH) will propel a transfemoral amputee at least 10,000 steps, on a single charge in a
powered leg prosthetic, and will extend device use during more energy intensive actions, such as running or
jumping. Extending operational range and providing rapid recharge capability will reduce range anxiety,
improve health, and raise quality of life for amputees. Generally, these advances will increase the adoption of
powered prosthetic limbs. Phase I will identify, validate key advantages, and fabricate a bench top BCH
module for a powered leg prosthetic that can regenerate energy within gait cycles and operate for ≥ 10,000
steps on a single charge. The scope of the work for the Phase II will include further refinement of the BCH
components as well as designing, building, and testing full-scale integrated BCH on prosthetics human gaits in
collaboration with well-known companies in prosthetics. Overall, our commercial goal is to build a complete
product line of BCH power systems specifically tailored to the unique needs of prosthetic products. Our
commercialization plan includes several other very relevant markets for the proposed technology that makes
development of the technology an attractive business pursuit.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9799127
- **Project number:** 4R44HD095716-02
- **Recipient organization:** GINER, INC.
- **Principal Investigator:** BADAWI M DWEIK
- **Activity code:** R44 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $975,417
- **Award type:** 4N
- **Project period:** 2019-12-10 → 2021-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9799127

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9799127, Improved Amputee Quality of Life Enabled by Tailored, Self-Regenerating Energy Storage Device For Powered Prosthetics (4R44HD095716-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-11 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9799127. Licensed CC0.

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