Composite Prosthetic Foot Plate Segmented Bonding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Prosthetic feet lack effective structural components that balance strength, stiffness, and flexibility to comfortably support user weight and assist in the gait cycle, particularly in the heel strike and toe-off stages.
Innovation Solution
A prosthetic foot structure featuring a plate assembly with a foot plate and shank plate bonded via an attachment structure composed of uni-directionally aligned reinforcing fibers in a resin material, allowing independent deflection and stress distribution across a gap to enhance flexibility and prevent separation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the foot plate and shank plate are bonded together along a continuous seam, then structural integrity is improved, but flexibility and independent deflection are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous seam is segmented into a discrete array of bonds separated by gaps. This segmentation allows the foot plate and shank plate to maintain structural integrity through the bonded regions while enabling independent deflection and flexing in the gap regions, thus resolving the contradiction between strength and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the interface between foot plate and shank plate are given different properties: bonded regions provide structural integrity and strength, while gap regions provide flexibility and independent deflection capability. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by allowing each region to perform its specific function.
2Strength
If the plates are made with higher strength materials, then weight-bearing capacity is improved, but flexibility and comfort are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The segmented bond structure allows strong materials to be used in the bonded regions for weight-bearing capacity, while the gap regions maintain flexibility and allow the plates to flex independently, thus resolving the contradiction between strength and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The interface structure creates local quality differences where bonded areas provide strength for weight-bearing while gap areas provide flexibility for comfort during gait cycle, resolving the contradiction between weight-bearing capacity and flexibility.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the seam extends fully between the plates, then structural continuity is improved, but stress concentration is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous seam is divided into discrete bonded segments separated by gaps. This segmentation maintains structural continuity through the bonded regions while distributing stress more evenly across multiple bond points, preventing stress concentration at any single location.
Solution Approach 2:
The segmented structure creates local variations where bonded regions provide structural continuity and gap regions provide stress relief, thereby maintaining overall structural continuity while reducing stress concentration.
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
The solution provides improved weight-bearing support and comfort by allowing independent deflection of the foot and shank plates, reducing stress concentration and maintaining structural integrity during the gait cycle.
Implementation Method 1
The attachment structure has a composite composition including a resin material containing reinforcing fibers
Implementation Method 2
the first plate is bonded to the second plate
Implementation Method 3
an intermediate portion with an arched configuration that flexes under the weight of the user
Implementation Method 4
The lower portion of the shank plate also flexes under the weight of the user, and is fastened to the foot plate to transmit the weight load forces to the foot plate
Data Source
AI summary
A prosthetic foot structure includes a plate assembly having a toe portion and a heel portion. The plate assembly includes a first plate adjoining a second plate along a seam at which the first plate is bonded to the second plate. The seam has an end between the first and second plates, and the first plate is spaced from the second plate across a gap that reaches away from the end of the seam. An attachment structure attaches the first plate to second plate. The attachment structure has a composite composition including a resin material containing reinforcing fibers. The reinforcing fibers reach through the first plate, across the gap, and through the second plate.