Bionic intelligent ankle-foot prosthesis based on the conjugate curved surface.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Prosthetics and Orthotics
• Robotics

Background:

• Traditional ankle-foot prostheses exhibit limited biomimetic motion.
• Developing intelligent prostheses that replicate human biomechanics is crucial for lower-limb amputees.
• Existing designs often fail to adequately address the complex movements of the human foot and ankle.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a novel bionic intelligent ankle-foot prosthesis engineered with a complex conjugate curved surface.
• To evaluate the biomimetic capabilities of the new prosthesis, focusing on ankle joint flexibility and ground impact absorption.
• To assess the potential of this advanced prosthesis in enhancing rehabilitation outcomes for individuals with lower-limb loss.

Main Methods:

• Design and fabrication of a bionic intelligent ankle-foot prosthesis incorporating rolling conjugated joints and a carbon fiber energy-storage foot.
• Investigation of the prosthetic ankle joint's range of motion and flexibility during simulated gait.
• Analysis of the prosthetic foot's capacity to absorb ground impact forces throughout the gait cycle.

Main Results:

• The prosthetic ankle/toe positioning closely matched the natural human foot during simulated walking.
• The bionic design demonstrated effective biomimetic motion, replicating key aspects of human foot and ankle function.
• The prosthesis showed promising capabilities in ground impact absorption, contributing to a more natural gait.

Conclusions:

• The developed complex conjugate curved surface ankle-foot prosthesis successfully achieves biomimetic motion.
• This innovation offers significant potential for improving the gait and rehabilitation of lower-limb amputees.
• The prosthesis design provides a foundation for future advancements in intelligent prosthetic technology.