Analysis of thin wall cells made of Zhermack silicone rubber used for lower limb prosthesis

Abstract

The suspension system of the lower limb prosthesis has the main role of providing the permanent contact with the stump. The paper proposed the FEM analysis and the experimental study on the thin wall cells as part of a network inflated with dry air at very well controlled pressure values. The cells are made of bicomponent silicone rubber Zhermack that is biocompatible and has very good elastic properties. The theoretical aspect of this study by using FEM method has computed acceptable values for the Von Misses stress and for the deformation, so that the pressure over the tissue is inside the recommended limits. The designed experimental set-up provides the values for pressure force needed to keep the permanent contact over the entire external surface of the thin wall cell.