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3D Printable Thermoplastic Polyurethane Energy Efficient Passive Foot.

Muhammad Hassaan Ahmed^1,2, Asharib Jamshid³, Usman Amjad³

¹Robot Design and Development Lab (RDDL), National Centre of Robotics and Automation (NCRA), NUST College of E&ME, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.

3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing

|January 20, 2023

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

A new 3D-printed passive prosthetic foot design using thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) offers improved energy storage. This low-cost, energy-efficient design is ideal for developing countries and enhances prosthetic functionality.

Keywords:

3D printing FDM technique design for AM finite element analysis (FEA)foot prosthesis passive foot thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU)

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Area of Science:

Biomedical Engineering
Materials Science
Prosthetics and Orthotics

Background:

Passive energy-storing prosthetics are crucial for improving mobility in amputees.
There is a growing demand for affordable, energy-efficient prosthetic devices, particularly in developing nations.
Current prosthetic foot designs often face limitations in energy storage and recovery efficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

To propose and analyze a novel passive prosthetic foot design optimized for energy efficiency.
To investigate the potential of 3D printing with thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) for fabricating advanced prosthetic feet.
To compare the energy storage capabilities of the proposed TPU foot with existing materials.

Main Methods:

A new passive prosthetic foot model was designed using SOLIDWORKS®.
Finite element analysis (FEA) was performed using ANSYS® to evaluate mechanical performance.
Two foot variations, with and without toe/heel steps, were analyzed under simulated gait conditions for an 80 kg individual at K2 activity level.

Main Results:

The 3D-printed TPU prosthetic foot demonstrated significant energy storage capabilities (0.044 J/Kg).
The presence or absence of toe and heel steps influenced the energy stored during simulated gait.
TPU exhibited superior energy storage compared to commonly used materials like Hytrel, Delrin, and Carbon Fiber DA.

Conclusions:

The proposed 3D-printed TPU prosthetic foot design offers a promising, energy-efficient solution for passive prosthetics.
Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) is a suitable material for fabricating durable and high-performing prosthetic feet.
This innovative design holds potential for improving the quality of life for amputees, especially in resource-limited settings.