Design and testing of a low-cost exoskeletal trans-femoral prosthetic knee device for use in developing countries

Abstract

Prosthetic devices are designed for amputees in developed countries, made with materials, mechanisms, and research budgets prohibitive to individuals and communities in developing countries. A prosthetic knee for trans-femoral amputees is developed at MIT and tested on patients at the Jaipur Foot Organization in Delhi, India. By using kinematic models of the knee, information was gathered on the feasibility of incorporating a stance-flex knee flexion mechanism in the design. Results show an increase in the flexion torque required to buckle the device in stance phase, resulting in a more reliable gait for the amputee. It is concluded that the prototype designed is a feasible alternative to current knee technology present in developing countries, although incorporation of a stance-flex mechanism is not possible within the confines of the current design.