Design of a fully-passive transfemoral prosthesis prototype

In this study, we present the mechanical design of a prototype of a fully-passive transfemoral prosthesis for normal walking. The conceptual working principle at the basis of the design is inspired by the power flow in human gait, with the main purpose of realizing an energy efficient device. The mechanism is based on three elements, which are responsible of the energetic coupling between the knee and ankle joints. The design parameters of the prototype are determined according to the human body and the natural gait characteristics, in order to mimic the dynamic behavior of a healthy leg. Hereby, we present the construction details of the prototype, which realizes the working principle of the conceptual mechanism.