Sarasota man is first to use bionic leg in the United States

SARASOTA - Peter Goldblatt had few choices left.

"I couldn't do much of anything," recalled Goldblatt of Sarasota.

Goldblatt, who is in his seventies, had polio when he was a child.  Although he was pretty much brace-free most of his life, his legs had weakened over past couple years.

"I didn't wear braces at all up until a year and a half ago when I was falling so much.  My legs had gotten so weak that I was falling a lot," explained Goldblatt.

That's when Peter connected with The Hanger Clinic, the prosthetic and orthotics company that developed Winter the dolphin's artificial tail.

Goldblatt became the first person in the United States to be fitted with the C-Brace, a bionic leg brace that uses microprocessors and real time sensors that help him walk.

"I don't have to worry about stumbling because it doesn't let go or it doesn't lock up," smiled Goldblatt.

Peter was all but destined for a wheelchair as his legs weakened.  The C-Brace has given him the opportunity to return to an active lifestyle.

Chris Toelle, Director of orthotics at The Hanger Clinic is Sarasota saw the transformation firsthand.

"With Peter, this is a gentleman that's at the end stage in his life.  And it has given him a renewed hope to be active.  And his quality of life has increased through the typical years where we see a slow down," said Toelle.

A combination of technology, modern science and lightweight components have propelled Peter Goldblatt into the role of the bionic brace trailblazer.

"It's a wonderful thing.  Usually I'm in the wrong place at the wrong time.  This time I was in the right place at the right time," smiled Goldblatt.

The C-Brace won't be widely available until later this year.