An Adaptable Passive Lower-Limb Prosthesis

Abstract

While the need for rigorous and affordable prostheses in developing countries is serious, little to none of these devices exist and are available to lower-limb amputees. In addition, pediatric amputees in low-income areas are further prohibited from accessing these technologies; the rapid growth rate of their limbs calls for frequent replacements of prostheses, making existing solutions economically unfeasible.

In this thesis, a model was generated to depict how the kinematic and kinetics of healthy pediatric gait vary with age. This model was then used to optimize the design of a passive ankle prosthesis, which uses a spring and damper system to store and release energy to the ankle joint. Most importantly, this system was designed to adapt to the changing gait pattern and dynamics of a pediatric amputee.

The presented paradigm—using a computer model to efficiently predict the gait produced by various prosthesis design—allows for the creation of affordable, accurate, and tailored devices for individuals who currently are forced to settle for one-size-fits all passive solutions. This approach promises to substantially increase the access to prostheses for children around the world.