Prosthetic Foot Insert with Dual-Modulus Forefoot
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Solution Overview
Problem
Prosthetic foot inserts with long foot lengths face difficulties in rolling, especially when walking uphill, due to the generation of a large ankle moment that counteracts the rolling movement, leading to instability and difficulty in adapting to different shoe heights.
Innovation Solution
The prosthetic foot insert features a forefoot region made from a material with a lower modulus of elasticity than the heel region, allowing increased flexibility and elasticity, which facilitates deformation under forefoot loading and provides a larger contact area, enhancing control and stability, particularly when walking uphill or kneeling, without the need for complex mechanical constructions or additional adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the forefoot region is made from a rigid material to provide structural support, then the prosthetic foot maintains stability, but rolling movement becomes difficult and a large ankle moment is generated when walking uphill
Solution Approach 1:
The base element is designed with spatially varying material properties: the heel region and midfoot are made from a first material with higher modulus of elasticity for structural support, while the forefoot region is made from a second material with lower modulus of elasticity for flexibility. This local differentiation allows the prosthetic foot to maintain overall stability while enabling easy rolling movement in the forefoot region.
Solution Approach 2:
The base element is constructed as a composite structure combining two different materials with distinct mechanical properties. The first material (higher modulus) provides rigidity in the heel and midfoot regions, while the second material (lower modulus) provides flexibility in the forefoot region. This composite construction resolves the contradiction between needing rigidity for stability and flexibility for rolling movement.
2Length of stationary object
If the forefoot lever is made long to increase foot length for better aesthetics, then the visual appearance improves, but the ankle moment increases making rolling difficult when walking uphill
Solution Approach 1:
The base element is designed with spatially varying material properties: the heel region and midfoot are made from a first material with higher modulus of elasticity for structural support, while the forefoot region is made from a second material with lower modulus of elasticity for flexibility. This local differentiation allows the prosthetic foot to maintain overall stability while enabling easy rolling movement in the forefoot region.
Solution Approach 2:
The modulus of elasticity parameter is changed in the forefoot region by using a material with lower modulus of elasticity. This parameter change allows the forefoot to deform more easily under load, reducing the ankle moment required for rolling movement while maintaining an extended foot length for aesthetic purposes.
3Ease of operation
If the forefoot region is made from a softer material to increase flexibility and contact area, then control during forefoot loading improves, but the structural support may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The base element is designed with spatially varying material properties: the heel region and midfoot are made from a first material with higher modulus of elasticity for structural support, while the forefoot region is made from a second material with lower modulus of elasticity for flexibility. This local differentiation allows the prosthetic foot to maintain overall stability while enabling easy rolling movement in the forefoot region.
Solution Approach 2:
The base element is constructed as a composite structure combining two different materials with distinct mechanical properties. The first material (higher modulus) provides rigidity in the heel and midfoot regions, while the second material (lower modulus) provides flexibility and increased contact area in the forefoot region, improving control during loading.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design improves the prosthetic foot's ability to mimic natural foot movement, providing enhanced stability and control during various activities, including uphill walking and kneeling, while maintaining a visually appealing appearance and adapting to different shoe heights without extensive adjustments.
Implementation Method 1
the forefoot region is formed from a second material which has a lower modulus of elasticity than the first material and projects forward beyond the anterior end of the heel region. Making the forefoot region from a second material, which has a lower modulus of elasticity than the first material of the base element, generates increased flexibility and elasticity in the forefoot region and locally significantly different yielding of the base element.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a prosthetic foot insert comprising: a proximal connection device (10) for fastening to a lower-leg tube or lower-leg shank; at least one base element (20), which is coupled or connected to the connection device (10) and has a forefoot region (21); the base element (20) has a heel region (22) or is connected to a heel region (22), which is formed from a first material and extends from the forefoot region (21) in the posterior direction: wherein the forefront region (21) is formed from a second material, which has a lower modulus of elasticity than the first material and projects forwards beyond the anterior end of the heel region (22).