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An incredible intelligent prosthetic leg developed by British scientists has been hailed as the world's most advanced artifical limb.

Equipped with knee and ankle joints that constantly 'talk' to each other, it is able to adapt to its environment in the same way as a real leg.

State-of-the art sensors across the knee and ankle continuously collect data on their surrounding environment, and the terrain on which the wearer is walking or standing.

A central processor collects this information and uses specially developed software, called Mi (Motion integrated intelligence), to adapt the position of the knee and ankle in response.

Dr Dame Sue Ion, chair of the MacRobert Award judging panel, said: "Blatchford has created the first ever integrated lower limb that behaves like a human leg, and produced a platform technology that signifies the beginning of the next generation of prosthetics."

As well as gaining from the prestige of the award, Basingstoke based Blatchford received a gold medal and a £50,000 prize.

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(Image: Blatchford)

Professor Sayeed Zahedi, technical director at Blatchford, said: "We use a whole array of sensors to sense the environment, whether the person is standing, sitting, walking on the flat, going up or down a ramp, or up or down stairs.

"We can then use information from those sensors that are measuring the ankle function to instruct the knee, and use the knee sensors to instruct the ankle, so there is a continuous dialogue between the two joints."

Prosthetic limb wearers use a considerable amount of concentration and energy in just keeping steady whilst standing still. This can lead to lower back pain and hip problems.

So the limb, caalled the Linx, is designed to sense when the wearer comes to a standstill, and automatically lock in position. Then, when the user wants to move on, the sensors unlock the joints again.

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By redistributing the load more evenly at the point at which the prosthesis meets the leg, the system also helps to increase the wearer's comfort.

To fit a patient a clinician calibrates the limb's central processor using a specially developed algorithm. This process allows the limb to learn and adapt to its wearer's natural walking speed and style.

The calibration process is much quicker than those for previous robotic limbs, as the ankle and knee are able to continuously talk to each other, allowing the smart algorithm to adjust both joints simultaneously.

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Where previously lower leg prosthetics wearers have had to plan their days meticulously according to the limitations of terrain they can tackle, the smart robotics in the Linx Limb system constantly monitor and adapt to the wearer's movements and the environment, giving users much greater confidence and freedom.

Known for spotting the 'next big thing', every year the MacRobert Award is presented to the engineers behind the UK technology sector's most exciting engineering innovation.

The Award, which is run by the Royal Academy of Engineering with support from the Worshipful Company of Engineers, has previously recognised technologies that have since become ubiquitous, such as the catalytic convertor and the CT scanner, which won the MacRobert Award seven years prior to receiving the Nobel Prize.

MacRobert Award winners are chosen by a panel comprising some of the biggest names in UK engineering who are all Fellows of the Academy, through the most comprehensive award selection process in the UK engineering sector.

Dame Sue added: "Blatchford has combined a compassionate approach to patient needs with huge ambition and exceptional systems engineering.

"In doing so, it has created the first-ever integrated lower limb that behaves like a human leg, and produced a platform technology that signifies the beginning of the next generation of prosthetics.

"Commercially, Blatchford also demonstrates outstanding success exporting globally while keeping its manufacturing base here in the UK.

"The Linx is helping patients throughout the world by empowering them with the freedom to tackle a much greater variety of terrains with confidence, and reducing the discomfort and costs associated with the problems of wearing prosthetics.

"The team behind this incredible innovation are true role models who show the positive impact that engineering can have on society."

The robotic limb's creators Blatchford were presented the UK's top engineering innovation prize by Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal yesterday.