Design and Evaluation of a High-Performance, Low-Cost Prosthetic Foot for Developing Countries
Name
med_017_01_011003.pdf
Description
Published version
Size
1.43 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
d58ce8968efded8bb5095bf9ccdd1199
Author(s)
Johnson, W Brett
Prost, Victor
Mukul, Pooja
Winter V, Amos G
Date Issued
March 1, 2023
Journal
Journal of Medical Devices
Publisher
ASME International
Citation
Johnson, W Brett, Prost, Victor, Mukul, Pooja and Winter V, Amos G. 2023. "Design and Evaluation of a High-Performance, Low-Cost Prosthetic Foot for Developing Countries." Journal of Medical Devices, 17 (1).
Version
Final published version
Abstract
Abstract
A novel, high-performance, cosmetic, rugged, appropriately costed, and mass-manufacturable prosthetic foot for use in low-income countries was designed and field tested. This ruggedized foot was created to accommodate the unique economic, environmental, and cultural requirements for users in India. A previous prototype that enabled able-bodied like gait was modified to include a durable cosmetic cover without altering the tuned stiffness of the overall foot. After undergoing mechanical benchtop testing, the foot was distributed to prosthesis users in India to for at least 5 months. Afterward, participants underwent clinical tests to evaluate walking performance, and additional benchtop testing was performed on the field-tested feet to identify changes in performance. The ruggedized foot endured 1 × 106 fatigue cycles without failure and demonstrated the desired stiffness properties. Subjects walked significantly faster (0.14 m/s) with the ruggedized foot compared to the Jaipur foot, and the feet showed no visible sign of damage after months of use. Additionally, the field-tested feet showed little difference in stiffness from a set of unused controls. Anecdotal feedback from the participants indicated that the foot improved their speed and/or walking effort, but may benefit from more degrees-of-freedom about the ankle. The results suggest that the foot fulfills its design requirements; however, further field testing is required with more participants over a longer period to make sure the foot is suitable for use in developing countries.
A novel, high-performance, cosmetic, rugged, appropriately costed, and mass-manufacturable prosthetic foot for use in low-income countries was designed and field tested. This ruggedized foot was created to accommodate the unique economic, environmental, and cultural requirements for users in India. A previous prototype that enabled able-bodied like gait was modified to include a durable cosmetic cover without altering the tuned stiffness of the overall foot. After undergoing mechanical benchtop testing, the foot was distributed to prosthesis users in India to for at least 5 months. Afterward, participants underwent clinical tests to evaluate walking performance, and additional benchtop testing was performed on the field-tested feet to identify changes in performance. The ruggedized foot endured 1 × 106 fatigue cycles without failure and demonstrated the desired stiffness properties. Subjects walked significantly faster (0.14 m/s) with the ruggedized foot compared to the Jaipur foot, and the feet showed no visible sign of damage after months of use. Additionally, the field-tested feet showed little difference in stiffness from a set of unused controls. Anecdotal feedback from the participants indicated that the foot improved their speed and/or walking effort, but may benefit from more degrees-of-freedom about the ankle. The results suggest that the foot fulfills its design requirements; however, further field testing is required with more participants over a longer period to make sure the foot is suitable for use in developing countries.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Mechanical Engineering
Terms of Use
Article is made available in accordance with the publisher's policy and may be subject to US copyright law. Please refer to the publisher's site for terms of use.
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DOI of Published Version
https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4055967
