I. LOWER-EXTREMITY PROSTHETICS A. Basic Studies Preformed Thermoplastic Above-Knee Sockets B. Development (Components) 1. SACH Foot Modificaion 2. VAPC Modular Foot C. Development (Techniques) Cosmetic Finishing for Skeletal Prostheses D. Evaluation (Components) 1. Blatchford Stabilized Knee (BSK) 2. Hosmer Pneumatic Swing Control Knee 3. Regnell Swing and Stance Mechanism 4. U.S. Manufacturing...

PURPOSE This study aimed to evaluate the effects of prosthetic foot types on the postural stability among transtibial amputees when standing on different support surfaces. MATERIALS AND METHODS The postural stability of 10 transtibial amputees wearing solid ankle cushion heel (SACH) foot, single-axis (SA) foot, and energy-saving and return (ESAR) foot was assessed. Results were compared with ...

Decreased push-off power by the prosthetic foot and inadequate roll-over shape of the foot have been shown to increase the energy dissipated during the step-to-step transition in human walking. The aim of this study was to determine whether energy storage and return (ESAR) feet are able to reduce the mechanical energy dissipated during the step-to-step transition. Fifteen males with a unilatera...

This paper presents the analysis, design, and preliminary testing of a prototype prosthetic foot for use in India. A concept consisting of a rigid structure with rotational joints at the ankle and metatarsal with rotational stiffnesses provided by springs is discussed. Because literature suggests that prosthetic feet that exhibit roll-over shapes similar to that of physiological feet allow more...

Contrary to stance-phase dorsiflexion of conventional prosthetic feet, the microprocessor-controlled Proprio foot permits swing-phase dorsiflexion on stairs. The purpose of this study was to compare Symmetry in External Work (SEW) between a microprocessor-controlled foot and conventional prosthetic feet in two groups with unilateral transtibial amputation (Medicare Functional Classification Lev...

The Jaipur prosthetic foot was developed in India in response to specific socio-cultural needs of Indian amputees. It is being used extensively in India and several other developing countries. Its claim of being a cheaper and satisfactory alternative to other prosthetic feet has not been investigated biomechanically. The present study was undertaken to compare its biomechanical properties with ...

The purpose of this pilot study was to investigate some of the new dynamic elastic response (DER) prosthetic feet compared to the SACH foot and determine if any demonstrated trends of producing the most optimum gait. We investigated the gait of five below-knee amputees while wearing four different DER feet (Flex-Foot, Carbon Copy II, SEATTLE, STEN) and a standard SACH foot. Each subject used ea...

Following years of accepting the Solid Ankle Cushion Heel (SACH) foot as the optimum compromise between durability and functional effectiveness, as well as being of reasonable cost, several new feet with dynamic elastic response qualities have been designed. The stimulus for these new designs is the recent development of materials which offer the potential to "store and release energy" in a man...

The normal human running has been simulated by two-dimensional biped model with 7 segments. Series of normal running experiments were performed and data of ground reaction forces measured by force plate was analyzed and was fitted to some Fourier series. The model is capable to simulate running for different ages and weights at different running speeds. A proportional derivative control algorit...

Recent advancement in prosthetic technology has led to the development of dynamic elastic response feet (DER), which are reported to store and release energy to facilitate gait. To date, there has been no objective evidence to suggest energy conservation while using these foot designs. The purpose of this study was to compare the energy expenditure of five commercially available prosthetic feet...