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Related Concept Videos

Bones of the Upper Limb: Ulna01:15

Bones of the Upper Limb: Ulna

The ulna and radius are parallel bones of the antebrachium or the forearm. The ulna lies medially and consists of a bony tip called the olecranon process at its proximal end. This hook-like projection articulates with the olecranon fossa of the humerus and forms the "hinged" ulnohumeral part of the elbow joint. This joint facilitates forearm extension and flexion while preventing its hyperextension. Similarly, the coronoid process, another bony projection on the proximal/anterior side of the...
Bones of the Lower Limb: Femur and Patella01:16

Bones of the Lower Limb: Femur and Patella

The femur is the body's longest and strongest bone spanning the thigh region. Its head articulates with the acetabulum of the hip bone to form the hip joint. A minor indentation on the medial side of the femoral head, called the fovea capitis, serves as the site of attachment for the ligament of the head of the femur. This weak ligament spans the femur and acetabulum and supports the hip joint. The narrowed region below the head is the neck of the femur. The inclination angle between the neck...
Bones of the Lower Limb: Tibia and Fibula01:10

Bones of the Lower Limb: Tibia and Fibula

The tibia is the main weight-bearing bone of the lower leg. It is larger than the fibula with which it is paired. The tibia is also the second longest bone in the body and is located right below the skin. The proximal end of the tibia forms the medial and the lateral condyle, which articulates with the condyles of the femur to form the knee joint. Between the articulating surfaces is the irregular elevated area known as the intercondylar eminence that serves as the inferior attachment point for...
Knee Joint01:23

Knee Joint

The knee joint is the most complicated joint in the body. It consists of three articulations– two tibiofemoral and one patellofemoral. As is characteristic of synovial joints, the knee joint has a thin articular capsule that partially surrounds this joint cavity. Additionally, several ligaments, muscles, and cartilaginous structures support the movement of the knee.
A total of seven ligaments support the knee joint. The patellar ligament, which is also attached to the quadriceps femoris group...
Ankle Joint01:10

Ankle Joint

The ankle is formed by the talocrural joint (crural = leg). It consists of the articulations between the talus bone of the foot and the distal ends of the tibia and fibula of the leg. The superior aspect of the talus bone is square-shaped and has three areas of articulation. The top of the talus articulates with the inferior tibia. This is the portion of the ankle joint that carries the body weight between the leg and foot. The sides of the talus are firmly held in position by the articulations...
Development of the Limb Synovial Joints01:07

Development of the Limb Synovial Joints

Joints form during embryonic development in conjunction with the formation and growth of the associated bones. The embryonic tissue that gives rise to all bones, cartilage, and connective tissues of the body is called mesenchyme.
The mesenchymal stem cells differentiate into chondrocytes that form the hyaline cartilage, and later the cartilaginous model of the bone. This model further transforms into a bone. This process is known as endochondral ossification.
During development, the limbs...

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Designing a Bio-responsive Robot from DNA Origami
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Bioinspired origami-based soft prosthetic knees.

Siyuan Gao1,2,3, Chengxu Yang4, Hongting Chen1,3

  • 1Department of Advanced Manufacturing and Robotics, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China.

Nature Communications
|December 31, 2024
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

This study introduces a novel soft prosthetic knee for above-knee amputees, integrating origami and bioinspired principles. The lightweight, shock-absorbing design enhances mobility and comfort, potentially revolutionizing lower limb prosthetics.

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Area of Science:

  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Robotics
  • Rehabilitation Technology

Background:

  • Current prosthetic knees struggle to balance user ambulation needs with comfort requirements like lightweight design and shock absorption.
  • Soft materials offer comfort but lack the structural integrity for effective prosthetic knee function, particularly in weight-bearing and morphological computation.
  • Existing solutions often fall short in providing a user-centric, bionic, and lightweight experience for transfemoral amputees.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop an innovative soft prosthetic knee for transfemoral amputees that addresses limitations in current designs.
  • To integrate origami technology and bioinspired weight-bearing principles to overcome the challenges of flexibility in soft robotic prosthetics.
  • To achieve a lightweight, compact, cost-effective, and easily fabricated prosthetic knee that enhances user comfort and ambulation.

Main Methods:

  • Integration of origami engineering principles with a bioinspired weight-bearing mechanism to create a novel soft prosthetic knee structure.
  • Development of a prosthetic knee utilizing soft materials to enhance comfort while ensuring sufficient structural integrity for weight-bearing.
  • Fabrication of a lightweight and compact prosthetic knee prototype designed for simple assembly and low-cost production.

Main Results:

  • The soft prosthetic knee successfully supports over 75 kg, demonstrating robust weight-bearing capabilities.
  • The design exhibits biomimetic polycentric flexion and superior impact absorption, reducing impact forces by 11.5% to 17.3%.
  • Experimental validation confirmed the prosthetic knee's ability to actively assist amputees in navigating diverse terrains, including ramps, stairs, and obstacles.

Conclusions:

  • The developed soft prosthetic knee effectively combines comfort with functional performance for transfemoral amputees.
  • The innovative integration of origami and bioinspired principles offers a promising solution for lightweight, shock-absorbing, and user-centric prosthetic design.
  • This research may herald a significant advancement, potentially leading to a paradigm shift in the field of lower limb prosthetic technology.