Development and Evaluation of New Coupling System for Lower Limb Prostheses with Acoustic Alarm System (original) (raw)
Individuals with lower limb amputation need a secure suspension system for their prosthetic devices. A new coupling system was developed that is capable of suspending the prosthesis. The system's safety is ensured through an acoustic alarm system. This article explains how the system works and provides an in vivo evaluation of the device with regard to pistoning during walking. The system was designed to be used with silicone liners and is based on the requirements of prosthetic suspension systems. Mechanical testing was performed using a universal testing machine. The pistoning during walking was measured using a motion analysis system. The new coupling device produced significantly less pistoning compared to a common suspension system (pin/lock). The safety alarm system would buzz if the suspension was going to fail. The new coupling system could securely suspend the prostheses in transtibial amputees and produced less vertical movement than the pin/lock system. T he demand for prosthetic devices, particularly as a result of lower limb amputation, is growing 1 . Amputees face a permanent disability that can only be addressed by artificial limbs (prostheses). As such, advancements in prosthetics technology are of utmost importance to improving the quality of amputees' life. When lower limb prosthesis is in use, the lower limb residuum is required to bear weight, but its soft tissues are not physiologically accustomed to such weight bearing activities 2,3 . Therefore, advancements in prosthetics technology are of utmost importance to amputees' life. Lower limb residuum should bear weight while its soft tissues are not physiologically accustomed to weight bearing.
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