Design and preliminary evaluation of a microprocessor controlled ankle-knee prosthetic system for above knee amputees (original) (raw)
Related papers
Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 2007
Objective: To evaluate differences in function, performance, and preference between mechanical and microprocessor prosthetic knee control technologies. Design: A-B-A-B reversal design. Setting: Home, community, and laboratory environments. Participants: Twenty-one unilateral, transfemoral amputees. Intervention: Mechanical control prosthetic knee versus microprocessor control prosthetic knee (Otto Bock C-Leg). Main Outcome Measures: Stair rating, hill rating and time, obstacle course time, divided attention task accuracy and time, Amputee Mobility Predictor score, step activity, Prosthesis Evaluation Questionnaire score, Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey score, self-reported frequency of stumbles and falls, and self-reported concentration required for ambulation. Results: Stair descent score, hill descent time, and hill sound-side step length showed significant (PϽ.01) improvement with the C-Leg. Users reported a significant (PϽ.05) decrease in frequency of stumbles and falls, frustration with falling, and difficulty in multitasking while using the microprocessor knee. Subject satisfaction with the C-Leg was significantly (PϽ.001) greater than the mechanical control prosthesis. Conclusions: The study population showed improved performance when negotiating stairs and hills, reduced frequency of stumbling and falling, and a preference for the microprocessor control C-Leg as compared with the mechanical control prosthetic knee.
Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology, 2019
Background: The compensations occurrence due to the alteration of the posture and the gait of persons with lower limb amputation is still an issue in prosthetic fitting. Recently, prosthetic feet designed to reproduce the physiological behaviour of the ankle using a microprocessor control have been commercialized to address this issue. Objectives: Investigate the relevance of these microprocessor prosthetic ankles (MPAs) in the ability of standing on both level and inclined surfaces. Methods: Six persons with transtibial amputation usually fitted with energy storing and returning (ESR) foot tested three MPAs: Elan V R Endolite (MPA1), Meridium V R Ottobock (MPA2), ProprioFoot V R Ossur (MPA3). Each MPA data acquisition was preceded of a 2 weeks adaptation period at home and followed by a 3weeks wash-out period with their ESR. Lower limb angular position and moment, Centre of Pressure (CoP) position, Ground Reaction Forces (GRF) and functional scores were collected in static, on level ground and 12% inclined slope. Results: MPAs allowed a better posture and a reduction of residual knee moment on positive and/or negative slope compared to ESR. Results also reflect that the MPA2 allows the best control of the CoP in all situations. Conclusions: An increased ankle mobility is associated with a better posture and balance on slope. Gait analysis would complete these outcomes. Clinical relevance: This study compares three MPAs to ESR analysing static posture. Static analysis on level ground and slope represents the challenging conditions people with amputation have to cope with in their daily life, especially outdoors. Having a better understanding of the three MPAs behaviour could help to adequately fit the prosthesis to each patient.
Prosthetics & Orthotics International, 2018
Background: Despite the evidence for improved safety and function of microprocessor stance and swing-controlled prosthetic knees, non-microprocessor-controlled prosthetic knees are still standard of care for persons with transfemoral amputations in most countries. Limited feature microprocessor-control enhancement of such knees could stand to significantly improve patient outcomes. Objectives: To evaluate gait speed, balance, and fall reduction benefits of the new 3E80 default stance hydraulic knee compared to standard non-microprocessor-controlled prosthetic knees. Study design: Comparative within-subject clinical study. Methods: A total of 13 young, high-functioning community ambulators with a transfemoral amputation underwent assessment of performance-based (e.g. 2-min walk test, timed ramp/stair tests) and self-reported (e.g. falls, Activities-Specific Balance Confidence scale, Prosthesis Evaluation Questionnaire question #1, Satisfaction with the Prosthesis) outcome measures fo...
Gait & Posture, 2007
Background: Microprocessor-controlled knee joints appeared on the market a decade ago. These joints are more sophisticated and more expensive than mechanical ones. The literature is contradictory regarding changes in gait and balance when using these sophisticated devices. Methods: This study employed a crossover design to assess the comparative performance of a passive mechanical knee prosthesis compared to a microprocessor-controlled knee joint in 15 subjects with an above-knee amputation. Objective measurements of gait and balance were obtained. Results: Subjects demonstrated significantly improved gait characteristics after receiving the microprocessor-controlled prosthetic knee joint (p < 0.01). Improvements in gait were a transition from a hyperextended knee to a flexed knee during loading response which resulted in a change from an internal knee flexor moment to a knee extensor moment. The participants' balance also improved (p < 0.01). All conditions of the Sensory Organization Test (SOT) demonstrated improvements in equilibrium score. The composite score also increased. Conclusions: Transfemoral amputees using a microprocessor-controlled knee have significant improvements in gait and balance.
Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part H: Journal of Engineering in Medicine, 2021
In case of transtibial amputation, the deficit resulting from the loss of the lower limb can be partly compensated with a prosthetic foot and adapted rehabilitation. New prosthetic feet have been developed for transtibial amputees to mimic ankle adaptability to varying terrain. Among them, Microprocessor Prosthetic Ankles (MPA) have a microprocessor to control an electric or a hydraulic actuator to adapt ankle kinematics in stairs and slopes. The objective is to investigate parameters extracted from the moment-angle curve (MAC) and use them to compare 3 MPA during level and slope locomotion against energy storing and return (ESR) foot. Five persons with lower limb transtibial amputation successively fitted with 3 MPA (Propriofoot™, Elan™, Meridium™) compared to their ESR foot. The participants had 2 weeks of adaptation before data acquisition and then a 3 week wash-out period. Range of motion, equilibrium point, hysteresis, late stance energy released, and quasi-stiffness were compu...
Prosthetics & Orthotics International, 2012
Background: Microprocessor controlled prosthetic knees (MPK) offer opportunities for improved walking stability and function, but some devices’ swing phase features may exceed needs of users with invariable cadence. One MPK offers computerized control of only stance (C-Leg Compact). Objective: To assess Medicare Functional Classification Level K2 walkers’ ramp negotiation performance, function and balance while using a non-MPK (NMPK) compared to the C-Leg Compact. Study Design: Crossover. Methods: Gait while ascending and descending a ramp (stride characteristics, kinematics, electromyography) and function were assessed in participant’s existing NMPK and again in the C-Leg Compact following accommodation. Results: Ramp ascent and descent were markedly faster in the C-Leg Compact compared to the NMPK ( p ≤ 0.006), owing to increases in stride length ( p ≤ 0.020) and cadence ( p ≤ 0.020). Residual limb peak knee flexion and ankle dorsiflexion were significantly greater (12.9° and 4.9°...
Gait Performance and Control of a Prosthetic Ankle Joint for Below-Knee Amputees
2015
First and foremost, I would like to express my special appreciation to my advisor Dr. Sesh Commuri. He has always motivated, supported, and guided me during my graduate study. I specially thank him for not only being my supervisor, but also for being my mentor and for giving me various opportunities to learn from him. This dissertation would not be possible without all his help.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Bilateral amputees are disadvantaged as they lack healthy leg support. We present the rare case of a bilateral transtibial amputee (BTA), in which we compared the first South Korean-made microprocessor-controlled prosthesis (MPA) to a conventional prosthetic ankle (CPA) with gait analysis and a patient questionnaire for long-term outcomes. A 70-year-old man presented with bilateral transtibial amputations from injury. Assessments were performed after wearing an MPA for 1 month and 1 year with three-dimensional gait analysis. Satisfaction, mobility, and pain were evaluated using the Korean version of the Prostheses Evaluation Questionnaire (K-PEQ). The spatiotemporal parameters of both sides showed increased stability from the CPA to 1 month (mMPA) and 1 year (yMPA). We observed an increased single support time, decreased step width, and almost normal stance-swing time ratio. In kinematic parameters, the ankle range of motion (ROM) was bilaterally increased at mMPA and yMPA. Unfortun...
JPO Journal of Prosthetics and Orthotics, 2009
Objective: To evaluate perceived comfort, security, maneuverability, cosmetic attributes, adverse effects, and safety of the microprocessor controlled C-Leg and nonmicroprocessor controlled passive prosthetic knees. Design: Nonrandomized pretest/posttest self-reported assessment with 50-question survey instrument. Setting: Six hundred Hanger Prosthetics and Orthotics facilities. Participants: Three hundred sixty-eight unilateral transfemoral amputees. Main Outcome Measures: Socket fit, confidence/security, gait and maneuverability, physical attributes, physical effects, and negative attributes/limiting factors of the two prosthetic technologies. Results: Participants characterized the C-Leg microprocessor controlled prosthesis as "better" according to the response percentages with regard to the following parameters: socket fit (72.9%), confidence/security (88.1%), gait and maneuverability (88.4%), physical attributes (65.8%), physical effects (61.5%), and negative attributes/limiting factors (85.3%). After use of the C-Leg, mean survey scores were significantly higher than initial responses associated with passive nonmicroprocessor controlled prosthetic knees (p Ͻ 0.0001). Conclusions: In comparison with their nonmicroprocessor controlled hydraulic prostheses, participants reported significant improvements with the C-Leg microprocessor controlled prosthetic knee with regard to comfort, security, maneuverability, cosmetic attributes, adverse effects, and safety.