Carbon fibre reinforced plastic applied to prosthetics and orthotics

This paper describes the work carried out at the Rehabilitation Engineering Unit, Chailey Heritage Hospital, in applying carbon fibre reinforced plastic CFRP to prosthetics and orthotics. The prosthetic application relates to the construction of the Chailey Harness which was used to mount externally powered, upper limb prostheses to the torso of limb deficient children damaged by the drug Thalidomide. The application to orthotics was limited to Hip-Knee-Ankle-Orthoses (HKAO) as worn by severely handicapped children with spina bifida and led to the development of a shapable CFRP/aluminium alloy hybrid composite bar. The construction of the composite, its properties and the assembly and performance of the first orthoses are described. Some of the practical problems experienced with the use of carbon fibre reinforced plastic are identified.