Modeling of pneumatic controlled bio mimetic articulated passive prosthetic spring loaded knee mechanism for transfemoral amputees

Abstract

Lower limb amputation causes many changes and associated adjustments, which not only relates the damaged limb but also to the entire body. Today, the development of prosthetic devices for transfemoral amputation witness continual growth in medical applications. In India, an estimated 2.68 crore people have movement disability according to disability census 2011. At present 230,000 transfemoral amputees are in need of prosthetic devices to be facilitated for the better living style and standards, but low cost devices are yet to touch the market. And also, the amputee must endure to function in society uncomplaining that his disability may utterly inhibit or even prohibit the performance of various activities to which he has long been habituated. When compared to other disabilities, above knee amputation deprive a human to perform his activities and earn livelihood becomes an arduous task. Regardless of the developments in technology, above-knee amputees still indicates significant deficiencies in walking patterns, speed in walking. In this paper, a novel modelling of a pneumatic controlled bio mimetic articulated passive prosthetic spring loaded knee system for early and late swing and stance control has been presented. This work establishes a functional knee model developed by Catia software for various activities. The proposed model contemplates user needs and provides a low cost alternative with high stability and more durability to enable flexion-extension of prosthetic leg during the gait cycle.