Active Component Lower Limb Prosthetic Device Research: Concept and Design

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Javier O. Mattos ◽  
Evan D. Kane ◽  
Philip A. Voglewede
Keyword(s):  
Lower Limb ◽  
Power Input ◽  
Production Costs ◽  
Metabolic Energy ◽  
Prosthetic Device ◽  
Prosthetic Foot ◽  
Below The Knee ◽  
Cost Constraints ◽  
Full Production ◽  
Order Of Magnitude

This paper presents a possible prosthetic solution to excessive metabolic energy expended by transtibial (below the knee) amputees. This solution uses a four bar mechanism in conjunction with a spring, a motor, and a prosthetic foot as a lower limb prosthetic device. An optimization was previously performed on the mechanism parameters to mimic human ankle moments during normal walking. The cost function has been refined with the intent to reduce the required peak power input as well as to keep the link lengths of the four bar mechanism within an order of magnitude of each other. Design complications of the prototype that have arisen and likely resolutions are also included in this paper. Parts have been sized and justified based on likely size of the wearer, potential full-production costs of parts, and cost constraints.

scholarly journals Prosthetic foot design with biomimetic ankle mechanism

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Colin Grace
Keyword(s):  
Robust Design ◽  
Lower Limb ◽  
Harsh Environments ◽  
Ball Joint ◽  
Prosthetic Device ◽  
Innovative Design ◽  
Prosthetic Foot ◽  
Novel Device ◽  
Lower Limb Prostheses

This thesis proposes a novel lower-limb prosthetic device. Current prosthetics either have overly simplistic designs with inaccurate biomechanics or use delicate microprocessors that are easily damaged in harsh environments. This thesis aims to address these concerns by creating a novel device that combines a pneumatic damping system with a ball joint, resulting in a robust design with improved biomechanics. This prosthetic offers an affordable alternative that can be completely rebuilt while providing added comfort through improved biomechanics. Overall, this thesis contributes to the literature by proposing and discussing an innovative design for an affordable, comfortable, biomechanically sound alternative for lower limb prostheses.

scholarly journals Control of a Powered Lower Limb Prosthetic Device

2011 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinming Sun ◽  
Philip A. Voglewede
Keyword(s):  
Lower Limb ◽  
Prosthetic Device

scholarly journals Perceptual correlates of successful body-prosthesis interaction in lower limb amputees: psychometric characterization and development of the Prosthesis Embodiment Scale

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robin Bekrater-Bodmann
Keyword(s):  
Lower Limb ◽  
Principal Axis ◽  
The Body ◽  
Limb Amputation ◽  
Prosthetic Device ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Final Version ◽  
Principal Axis Factoring ◽  
Test Retest Reliability ◽  
Lower Limb Amputees

Prostheses are used to at least partly restore the body after limb amputation. Making the user accepting the prosthetic device as part of his or her body, i.e., inducing prosthesis embodiment, has been identified as major aim of prosthetic treatment. However, up to now, there is no consensus about the psychometric nature of prosthesis embodiment in limb amputees. In the present study, 118 unilateral lower limb amputees using a prosthesis were asked to complete an online questionnaire targeting prosthesis embodiment. Principal axis factoring revealed the factor structure of prosthesis embodiment, i.e., Ownership/Integrity, Agency, and Anatomical Plausibility, which resembles the embodiment structure previously found in normally-limbed participants. The majority of amputees achieved substantial embodiment of the prosthesis as assessed with the final version of the newly developed Prosthesis Embodiment Scale. Internal consistency was excellent, and test-retest reliability was acceptable, while the instrument was also sensitive for new prosthetic supply. Validation on the basis of relationships to locomotor capability, prosthesis satisfaction, and prosthesis adjustment was performed. The Prosthesis Embodiment Scale could be a valuable tool for the phenomenological assessment of successful body-prosthesis interaction in rehabilitative and research contexts, the latter which might further benefit from the comparability of psychometrically evaluated data.

scholarly journals A review on the use of additive manufacturing to produce lower limb orthoses

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 85-94 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammed S. Alqahtani ◽  
Abdulsalam Al-Tamimi ◽  
Henrique Almeida ◽  
Glen Cooper ◽  
Paulo Bartolo
Keyword(s):  
Additive Manufacturing ◽  
Lower Limb ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Production Costs ◽  
Current State ◽  
Research Challenges ◽  
Fixation Devices ◽  
Alignment Correction ◽  
And Performance

Abstract Orthoses (exoskeletons and fracture fixation devices) enhance users’ ability to function and improve their quality of life by supporting alignment correction, restoring mobility, providing protection, immobilisation and stabilisation. Ideally, these devices should be personalised to each patient to improve comfort and performance. Production costs have been one of the main constraints for the production of personalised orthoses. However, customisation and personalisation of orthoses are now possible through the use of additive manufacturing. This paper presents the current state of the art of additive manufacturing for the fabrication of orthoses, providing several examples, and discusses key research challenges to be addressed to further develop this field.

scholarly journals Avaliação postural de sujeitos com amputação de membro inferior

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 33103
Author(s):  
Viviane Leite ◽  
Lisiane Piazza Luza ◽  
Sara Maria Soffiatti Dias ◽  
Thamara Caviquioni ◽  
Ediane Roberge Fernandes Zampirolo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lower Limb ◽  
T Test ◽  
Limb Amputation ◽  
Postural Asymmetry ◽  
Significance Level ◽  
Below The Knee ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Ankle Angle ◽  
The Right ◽  
Left Scapula

AIMS: To evaluate the posture of subjects with lower limb amputee.METHODS: Ten subjects participated in the study, males, with 38,2 ± 8,2 years, with unilateral lower limb amputation and prosthesis users. For the postural evaluation, the Postural Evaluation Software (SAPO) was used, and the images were evaluated according to the software protocol. Data were analyzed through descriptive and inferential statistics (independent t test), with a significance level of p ≤ 0,05.RESULTS: The main alterations observed were: rearfoot valgus enlargement, flexed ankle, head tilted to the right and trunk in flexion. When compared the posture according to time of amputation, was observed a statistically significant difference in the horizontal asymmetry of scapula in relation to T3 (p = 0,004), being that subjects with amputation time of up to six years presented the left scapula higher than the right one (-5,28 ± 8,16°) and those with more than six years of amputation had the right upper right scapula (19,42 ± 11°). In the comparison between amputation levels, there was a statistically significant difference in the ankle angle (p = 0,008), with subjects with amputation below the knee presenting greater ankle flexion (81,97 ± 1,72°) than those with amputation at the level of the knee and above this (87,30 ± 2,65°).CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the present study demonstrate that all the evaluated subjects presented some postural alteration, however, it cannot be affirmed that the postural asymmetry of these is due to the amputation.

Developing a Cost-Effective and Functional Prosthetic Foot for Below Knee Amputees Using Topology Optimization and 3D Printing

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hisham Kamel ◽  
Omar Harraz ◽  
Tamer Attia
Keyword(s):  
Topology Optimization ◽  
3D Printing ◽  
Experimental Tests ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Metabolic Energy ◽  
Release Mechanism ◽  
Normal Person ◽  
Fe Model ◽  
Prosthetic Foot ◽  
Human Foot

Abstract This paper presents the results of an investigative study on the development of an affordable and functional prosthetic foot for below knee amputees. A prototype was successfully manufactured using 3D printing technology. This continuously evolving technology enables the rapid production of prosthetics that are individually customized for each patient. Our prototype was developed after conducting a topology optimization study that interestingly converged to the shape of the biological human foot. Afterwards, a design was envisioned where a simple energy storage and release mechanism was implemented to replace the Achilles tendon, which minimizes the metabolic energy cost of walking. Our mechanism can successfully manage 70% of the energy compared to a normal person during each walking step. A finite element (FE) model of the prosthetic was developed and validated using experimental tests. Then, this FE model was used to confirm the safe operation of the prosthetic through simulating different loading scenarios according to the ISO standard. Our study clearly showed that customizable prosthetics could be produced at a fraction 1/60 of the cost of the commercially sold ones.

Develop a Flexible Regenerative Exoskeleton to Assist Walking

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Longhan Xie ◽  
Xiaodong Li
Keyword(s):  
Kinetic Energy ◽  
Human Body ◽  
Lower Limb ◽  
Metabolic Cost ◽  
Lower Limbs ◽  
Metabolic Energy ◽  
Lower Limb Exoskeleton ◽  
Negative Work ◽  
Lower Limb Muscles ◽  
Assisting Device

During walking, human lower limbs accelerate and decelerate alternately, during which period the human body does positive and negative work, respectively. Muscles provide power to all motions and cost metabolic energy both in accelerating and decelerating the lower limbs. In this work, the lower-limb biomechanics of walking was analyzed and it revealed that if the negative work performed during deceleration can be harnessed using some assisting device to then assist the acceleration movement of the lower limb, the total metabolic cost of the human body during walking can be reduced. A flexible lower-limb exoskeleton was then proposed; it is worn in parallel to the lower limbs to assist human walking without consuming external power. The flexible exoskeleton consists of elastic and damping components that are similar to physiological structure of a human lower limb. When worn on the lower limb, the exoskeleton can partly replace the function of the lower limb muscles and scavenge kinetic energy during lower limb deceleration to assist the acceleration movement. Besides, the generator in the exoskeleton, serving as a damping component, can harvest kinetic energy to produce electricity. A prototype of the flexible exoskeleton was developed, and experiments were carried out to validate the analysis. The experiments showed that the exoskeleton could reduce the metabolic cost by 3.12% at the walking speed of 4.5 km/h.

Morphological Study of the Valvular Distribution in the Long Saphenous Vein

1994 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 59-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Ortega ◽  
L. Sarmiento ◽  
B. Mompeo ◽  
A. Centol ◽  
A. Nicolaides ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vascular Surgery ◽  
Saphenous Vein ◽  
Lower Limb ◽  
Morphological Study ◽  
Venous Disease ◽  
Gran Canaria ◽  
Anatomical Dissection ◽  
Long Saphenous Vein ◽  
Below The Knee ◽  
Academic Vascular Surgery

Objective: To measure the distribution of valves in the long saphenous vein. Design: Morphological study of the intervalvular distance of the long saphenous vein. Setting: Department of Morfología, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud (Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain) and Academic Vascular Surgery Unit, St Mary's Hospital, London, UK. Material: Twenty lower extremities from adult cadavers with no evidence of lower limb venous disease. Methods: Anatomical dissection of the long saphenous vein, with accurate measurement of valve distribution. Results: There were on average 8.7 valves in the long saphenous vein, with 6.3 above the knee and 2.4 below the knee. Conclusion: Contrary to classical anatomical texts on this subject there are more valves in the long saphenous vein in the thigh than in the calf.

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