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An Attempt to Improve Stance Mechanics of Trans-Tibial Amputee Gait by the Design of a Modular Ankle Joint Prosthetic
Background: A-priori research shows that trans-tibial (TT) amputees display poor gait parameters when walking with low-cost ankle-foot prosthetics (here referred to as baseline AFP’s). This has drastic implications for the amputee populations in the developing world specifically, as they have limite...
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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Department of Human Biology
2019
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| _version_ | 1867613310369660928 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | During, Alastair B |
| author2 | Vicatos, George |
| author_browse | During, Alastair B Vicatos, George |
| author_facet | Vicatos, George During, Alastair B |
| author_sort | During, Alastair B |
| collection | Thesis |
| description | Background: A-priori research shows that trans-tibial (TT) amputees display poor gait parameters when walking with low-cost ankle-foot prosthetics (here referred to as baseline AFP’s). This has drastic implications for the amputee populations in the developing world specifically, as they have limited access to advanced prosthetic technologies. Low-cost AFP’s are unable to adequately replicate natural stance mechanics, and reliance on these devices results in increased energy expenditure, osteoarthritis and lower-limb joint deterioration.
Methodology: This project details the design of a novel ankle joint prosthetic (AJP) that serves as an attachment to baseline AFP’s, with the aim of facilitating better stance mechanics via the restoration of ankle joint mechanisms. The work is presented in three core sections: Part 1 explains the rationale as to why adequately replicating natural stance mechanics is an appropriate need; Part 2 presents the design of the modular low-cost AJP that utilises only simple mechanical elements; and Part 3 presents the experimental quantification of the impact the AJP has on stance mechanics of a baseline AFP (Otto Bock 1D10) in a simulation of the TT amputee walking gait cycle, via the use of three able-bodied participants and a pseudo-prosthesis.
Results: The results indicate that the AJP significantly improves the stance mechanics of the baseline AFP. During forefoot rollover a stable joint moment and an increase in joint range of motion (RoM) was observed, yielding a decrease in ankle stiffness. During initial weight acceptance of early stance, an increase in joint RoM displays the restoration of controlled plantarflexion, which indicates an improved transition from heelstrike to footflat. This is a critical mechanism that facilitates stability control during weight acceptance, and the results suggest that the designed AJP is performing better in this regard than its closest functional competitor. However, equipment errors limited the ability to accurately report on ankle stiffness of this phase.
Conclusions: Overall the final conclusions are that the designed AJP improves rollover shapes of the baseline AFP, eases phase transitions, and facilitates stability control and forward tibial progression. In combination with the low cost price (±50 USD), its ease of assembly and modular design, the AJP is thus a preferable option for low-income amputees in developing countries. Finally, there is significant evidence of functional and mechanical reliability, and therefore testing of the device can progress to a clinical study involving amputee participants. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/29626 |
| institution | University of Cape Town (South Africa) |
| language | eng |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:34:06.076Z |
| license_str | Not specified — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| publishDate | 2019 |
| publishDateRange | 2019 |
| publishDateSort | 2019 |
| publisher | Department of Human Biology |
| publisherStr | Department of Human Biology |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| spelling | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/29626 An Attempt to Improve Stance Mechanics of Trans-Tibial Amputee Gait by the Design of a Modular Ankle Joint Prosthetic During, Alastair B Vicatos, George Sivarasu, Sudesh Biomedical Engineering Background: A-priori research shows that trans-tibial (TT) amputees display poor gait parameters when walking with low-cost ankle-foot prosthetics (here referred to as baseline AFP’s). This has drastic implications for the amputee populations in the developing world specifically, as they have limited access to advanced prosthetic technologies. Low-cost AFP’s are unable to adequately replicate natural stance mechanics, and reliance on these devices results in increased energy expenditure, osteoarthritis and lower-limb joint deterioration. Methodology: This project details the design of a novel ankle joint prosthetic (AJP) that serves as an attachment to baseline AFP’s, with the aim of facilitating better stance mechanics via the restoration of ankle joint mechanisms. The work is presented in three core sections: Part 1 explains the rationale as to why adequately replicating natural stance mechanics is an appropriate need; Part 2 presents the design of the modular low-cost AJP that utilises only simple mechanical elements; and Part 3 presents the experimental quantification of the impact the AJP has on stance mechanics of a baseline AFP (Otto Bock 1D10) in a simulation of the TT amputee walking gait cycle, via the use of three able-bodied participants and a pseudo-prosthesis. Results: The results indicate that the AJP significantly improves the stance mechanics of the baseline AFP. During forefoot rollover a stable joint moment and an increase in joint range of motion (RoM) was observed, yielding a decrease in ankle stiffness. During initial weight acceptance of early stance, an increase in joint RoM displays the restoration of controlled plantarflexion, which indicates an improved transition from heelstrike to footflat. This is a critical mechanism that facilitates stability control during weight acceptance, and the results suggest that the designed AJP is performing better in this regard than its closest functional competitor. However, equipment errors limited the ability to accurately report on ankle stiffness of this phase. Conclusions: Overall the final conclusions are that the designed AJP improves rollover shapes of the baseline AFP, eases phase transitions, and facilitates stability control and forward tibial progression. In combination with the low cost price (±50 USD), its ease of assembly and modular design, the AJP is thus a preferable option for low-income amputees in developing countries. Finally, there is significant evidence of functional and mechanical reliability, and therefore testing of the device can progress to a clinical study involving amputee participants. 2019-02-18T11:19:43Z 2019-02-18T11:19:43Z 2018 2019-02-18T07:04:38Z Master Thesis Masters MSc (Med) http://hdl.handle.net/11427/29626 eng application/pdf Department of Human Biology Faculty of Health Sciences University of Cape Town |
| spellingShingle | Biomedical Engineering During, Alastair B An Attempt to Improve Stance Mechanics of Trans-Tibial Amputee Gait by the Design of a Modular Ankle Joint Prosthetic |
| thesis_degree_str | Master's |
| title | An Attempt to Improve Stance Mechanics of Trans-Tibial Amputee Gait by the Design of a Modular Ankle Joint Prosthetic |
| title_full | An Attempt to Improve Stance Mechanics of Trans-Tibial Amputee Gait by the Design of a Modular Ankle Joint Prosthetic |
| title_fullStr | An Attempt to Improve Stance Mechanics of Trans-Tibial Amputee Gait by the Design of a Modular Ankle Joint Prosthetic |
| title_full_unstemmed | An Attempt to Improve Stance Mechanics of Trans-Tibial Amputee Gait by the Design of a Modular Ankle Joint Prosthetic |
| title_short | An Attempt to Improve Stance Mechanics of Trans-Tibial Amputee Gait by the Design of a Modular Ankle Joint Prosthetic |
| title_sort | attempt to improve stance mechanics of trans tibial amputee gait by the design of a modular ankle joint prosthetic |
| topic | Biomedical Engineering |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/11427/29626 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT duringalastairb anattempttoimprovestancemechanicsoftranstibialamputeegaitbythedesignofamodularanklejointprosthetic AT duringalastairb attempttoimprovestancemechanicsoftranstibialamputeegaitbythedesignofamodularanklejointprosthetic |