Connecting Mechanical to Biomechanical Performance of Prosthetic Feet to Design Customized Passive Devices that Provide Improved Mobility
Abstract
The motivation behind this project is to create high-performance, rugged, passive mechanical prosthetic feet that can drastically improve the lives of the active military and Veteran populations who have below-knee amputations (BKAs). We have devised a novel design and optimization method that enables the prediction of how a prosthetic foot will perform depending on its stiffness, geometry, and mechanical design. Through this research program, we will use this method to design single-component, compliant feet that are optimized for various activities of daily living, can be manufactured at low cost through injection molding or with high customizability with 3D printing, and are tunable for specific patients’ body weight, size, and level of activity. This project precisely addresses the 2016 U.S. Congressional mandate for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide improved prosthetic limbs, “Veterans have a need for accessible, dependable, and affordable tools to overcome barriers to engagement, employment, and independent living. The continued development of 3D printing and other technological advances has the potential to make development and adaptation of devices faster and more affordable.” This project aligns with the Fiscal Year 2016 Peer Reviewed Orthopaedic Research Program Rehabilitation Focus Area: Prosthetic and/or Orthotic Device Function. This research program has three primary aims, which will be accomplished over 3 years. The first aim is to generalize our optimization method for any patient. In the first year, we will create a clinical algorithm that scales the walking motions and forces of able-bodied people to a specific patient’s size and mass, and then uses these data to create a foot with customized stiffness and geometry. The clinical algorithm will be validated through flat-ground walking tests. The second aim is to create a foot design that can be made out of a single part of flexible material. During the first and second years, we will design single-part, compliant feet that can be 3D-printed, injection-molded, extruded, or machined easily. The performance of these feet, and how well they match our theoretical predictions, will be confirmed through flat-ground gait testing. The final aim is to create optimized foot designs for multiple mobility scenarios reflective of daily living. During the second year, able-bodied gait data will be collected from people performing valuable activities, such as walking, quickly, up and down stairs, and on slopes. These data will be used as input to our design method to create a foot that provides a high level of functional mobility. The multi-activity feet will be tested in the third year to measure how well their performance was mathematically predicted. These results will be used to refine our design and optimization method to accurately predict the required foot design given a specific patient’s needs. The foot technology created under this project, which will facilitate improved mobility in many activities of daily living, will enable members of the military with BKA to return to service in conditions that demand high levels of impact, stress, and energy. Our foot will enable people to navigate rough and hilly terrain, walk at any desired cadence, and reduce fatigue. The technology will offer a high-value, high-performance solution for persons with amputations treated through the VA, reducing costs and improving mobility of patients. The feet will also be rapidly customizable for patients’ body mass, foot size, and activity level.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Oct 29, 2018
- Source ID
- W81XWH1710427
Entities
People
- Amos Winter
Organizations
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- United States Army