CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY

CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY

QL+ Program Manager:

Jody Kakacek

Ph.D., MNPM

About

CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY

The Catholic University of America is the national university of the Catholic Church and the only higher education institution founded by the U.S. bishops. Established in 1887 as a papally chartered graduate and research center, the University comprises 12 schools and 31 research facilities and is home to 3,332 undergraduate and 2,624 graduate students.

Website

https://engineering.catholic.edu/

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Email

jody.kakacek@qlplus.org

CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY
Projects

Current Projects

CATH U: GOLF ADAPTATION DEVICE (STUDENT CHAPTER Y2)

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CATH U: BREAKAWAY PROSTHETIC LEG V3

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CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY
Projects

Completed Project List

CATH U: BREAKAWAY PROSTHETIC LEG
Innovative and Life Changing Solutions

CATH U: BREAKAWAY PROSTHETIC LEG

The breakaway for the prosthetic leg is being completed in accordance with the Quality of Life Plus (QL+) Program. The challenger for this project is Peter Way. Peter is a retired Army Major who was injured in 2003, while serving, from a rocket-propelled grenade....

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CATH U: GOLF ASSISTS FOR HAND TRANSPLANTS
Innovative and Life Changing Solutions

CATH U: GOLF ASSISTS FOR HAND TRANSPLANTS

We were tasked to create an assistive golf adaptation device for veteran, Eric Lund. Back in May 2012, Eric lost both of his arms while serving in Afghanistan....

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Student facing forward
Microprocessor Knee Algorithm for OI

CATH U: MICROPROCESSOR KNEE ALGORITHM FOR OI

The Challenge is to improve the algorithm/software and possibly the prosthetic angles to allow for a more efficient and safer gait following OI surgery.

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Arm brace
Auto-Adjusting Arm Brace

CATH U: AUTO-ADJUSTING ARM BRACE

The goal of this challenge to create a lightweight brace that can automatically be placed into a 90-degree elbow position with something such as a “push of a button” and will also be able to hold his shoulder up into his socket.

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Students working
Auto-adjusting arm brace V2

CATH U: AUTO-ADJUSTING ARM BRACE V2

The goal of this challenge to create a lightweight brace that can automatically be placed into a 90-degree elbow position with something such as a “push of a button” and will also be able to hold his shoulder up into his socket.

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Students working
Golf adaptive device (Master's Student)

CATH U: GOLF ADAPTATION DEVICE (MASTER'S STUDENT)

The goal of this Challenge is to create a golfing device that will allow him to enjoy the sport.

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Students working
Hiking Prosthetic V3

CATH U: HIKING PROSTHETIC V3

The Challenge is to create hiking prosthetics that allow him to walk over uneven terrain safely and efficiently.

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CATH U: BREAKAWAY PROSTHETIC LEG
Breakaway Prosthetic Leg V2

CATH U: BREAKAWAY PROSTHETIC LEG V2

The breakaway for the prosthetic leg is being completed in accordance with the Quality of Life Plus (QL+) Program. The challenger for this project is Peter Way. Peter is a retired Army Major who was injured in 2003, while serving, from a rocket-propelled grenade....

Go to Project
Students standing together
Golf adaptive device (Student Chapter Y1)

CATH U: GOLF ADAPTATION DEVICE (STUDENT CHAPTER Y1)

SGT Eric Lund is a retired Army Infantryman (11B) who lost both arms from an IED blast injury in 2012. Eric was deployed to Afghanistan for his first deployment on January 3, 2012. On the Sunday morning of May 2nd, he remembers being in an MATV, but has no memory of hitting the IED. His memory began to resurface while he was in ICU in San Antonio. It was patchy and came with nightmares. His first memories were being wheeled outside and how hot it was. The story of his injury to this point is pieced together. Eric was a gunner when his vehicle (lead vehicle) ran over a large IED that flipped the vehicle. The 2nd vehicle, also, ran over the IED. This was the start of an ambush ensued by gunfire. Eric was the most severely injured of the 10 men. He lost his right arm on the scene and they later had to take the 2nd arm as well. Eric received bilateral hand transplants 1 year ago. At this point he does not have use of his forearms, wrists and hands until the nerves finish growing distally, and therefore is unable to grip, flex or extend his wrists.

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