Resilient Prosthetic Foot Kickback Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Prosthetic feet currently do not effectively replicate the action of a real foot, leading to 'kickback' or 'kickforward' reactions that increase the risk of injury to amputees, especially when encountering obstacles like door jams.
Innovation Solution
A prosthetic foot design featuring a ground-engaging bottom resilient member, a heel resilient member, and a toe resilient member, which deflect and distribute compressive forces to minimize 'kickback' by absorbing impact and allowing smooth traversal over raised surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional rigid prosthetic foot structure is used, then structural strength is maintained, but kickback forces are generated that increase injury risk
Solution Approach 1:
The prosthetic foot is divided into multiple resilient members (bottom member, heel member, toe member) that can independently deflect and absorb energy. This segmentation allows each component to handle specific forces during the gait cycle, reducing overall kickback forces while maintaining structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient members are pre-configured with elastic properties to absorb impact forces before they can generate harmful kickback reactions. The bottom resilient member and heel resilient member act as cushioning elements that deform under compression, dissipating energy that would otherwise be transmitted back to the user's leg.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If a resilient multi-member structure is used, then kickback forces are minimized, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple resilient members (bottom member, heel member, toe member) are combined into a single integrated prosthetic foot assembly that works together as a unified system. The members are connected in a way that their combined elastic deformation provides the kickback-reducing effect while presenting a compact, cohesive structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient members function as flexible elastic structures that deform under load. These flexible components replace rigid structural elements, allowing the foot to adapt to terrain and absorb impacts through elastic deformation rather than requiring complex mechanical joints or actuators.
3Ease of operation
If traditional prosthetic feet are used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but natural gait replication is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient members are designed with specific elastic parameters (modulus of elasticity, cross-sectional geometry, length) that can be adjusted to replicate the mechanical properties of a human foot. By changing these physical parameters of the elastic materials, the prosthetic foot can be tuned to match natural gait characteristics without requiring complex control systems.
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 design reduces the risk of injury by minimizing 'kickback' forces and providing a more natural gait, allowing amputees to walk over obstacles without rearward leg force, enhancing safety and comfort.
Implementation Method 1
a ground engaging bottom resilient member having a front end and a back end and an intermediate section spanning between and connecting the front end and the back end; a heel resilient member having a rear end connected to the back end of the bottom resilient member, extending upwardly from the back end
Implementation Method 2
when the compressive applied force compresses said prosthetic foot against the ground the intermediate section of the bottom member upwardly deflects from the ground
Data Source
AI summary
A prosthetic foot comprises a ground engaging bottom resilient member, a resilient heel member, and a resilient toe member that collectively circumscribe an open volumetric space. The members resilient compress to absorb compressive force throughout the entire stride of an individual utilizing the foot.