Concept design and design optimization of the transfemoral prosthetic leg prototype

Abstract

The biggest challenge with today’s lower leg prosthetic devices is to climb the stairs in a biologically inspired way. When climbing the stairs, due to the large moments in the knee joint, great forces in the knee occur. Because of the magnitude of these forces, which can be up to six times the weight of a person, it is necessary to use a hydraulic drive with an external power source in the knee and ankle joint. However, most commercially available above-knee prosthetic legs only have actuation in the form of damping in the knee joint. Hence, an amputee is forced to use a healthy leg to advance to each step first while amputated leg follows.