Design and Initial Evaluation of a Low-Cost Microprocessor-Controlled Above-Knee Prosthesis: A Case Report of 2 Patients
For prosthesis users, knee units can range from simple devices costing $2000 up to $45,000 for high-end, microprocessor-controlled systems. These higher-end electronic knees provide significant advantages in stability, gait, and metabolic rate compared to their passive or mechanical counterparts. Ho...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-02-01
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| Series: | Prosthesis |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-1592/4/1/7 |
| _version_ | 1797443052130795520 |
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| author | Lucas Galey Roger V. Gonzalez |
| author_facet | Lucas Galey Roger V. Gonzalez |
| author_sort | Lucas Galey |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | For prosthesis users, knee units can range from simple devices costing $2000 up to $45,000 for high-end, microprocessor-controlled systems. These higher-end electronic knees provide significant advantages in stability, gait, and metabolic rate compared to their passive or mechanical counterparts. However, the high cost of such systems makes them inaccessible to most amputees. In this study, it was hypothesized that a microprocessor knee could be manufactured for less than $1000, with comparable stability and user experience to a high-end industry standard device. A prototype (E-Knee) was designed with a specific emphasis on stance stability, and was tested during patient gait trials. The gait trials used a repeated measures design to compare three knee devices (a simple passive knee, the prototype E-Knee, and a high-end knee). Ground reaction forces and a functionality questionnaire were used to compare devices. A microprocessor locking test was used to evaluate the prototype’s ability to prevent falls. Building on the LIMBS M3, a passive four-bar polycentric device, the E-Knee added sensing, computing, and controlling capabilities for a material cost of $507. Initial data from a two-subject trial served as proof-of-concept to validate the prototype and found that it improved gait by providing more stability than the M3 and had more gait-pattern similarities to the Ottobock C-Leg than to the M3. Patients reported no perceived differences in stability between the E-Knee and the C-Leg. Patient trials supported that the E-Knee prototype behaved more naturally than the low-end M3 device and had similar ground reaction forces to the C-Leg. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T12:50:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fbe82a57faa04ce789562ae1198d96de |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2673-1592 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T12:50:32Z |
| publishDate | 2022-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Prosthesis |
| spelling | doaj.art-fbe82a57faa04ce789562ae1198d96de2023-11-30T22:07:56ZengMDPI AGProsthesis2673-15922022-02-0141607210.3390/prosthesis4010007Design and Initial Evaluation of a Low-Cost Microprocessor-Controlled Above-Knee Prosthesis: A Case Report of 2 PatientsLucas Galey0Roger V. Gonzalez1Metallurgical, Materials and Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79912, USAEngineering Education & Leadership, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79912, USAFor prosthesis users, knee units can range from simple devices costing $2000 up to $45,000 for high-end, microprocessor-controlled systems. These higher-end electronic knees provide significant advantages in stability, gait, and metabolic rate compared to their passive or mechanical counterparts. However, the high cost of such systems makes them inaccessible to most amputees. In this study, it was hypothesized that a microprocessor knee could be manufactured for less than $1000, with comparable stability and user experience to a high-end industry standard device. A prototype (E-Knee) was designed with a specific emphasis on stance stability, and was tested during patient gait trials. The gait trials used a repeated measures design to compare three knee devices (a simple passive knee, the prototype E-Knee, and a high-end knee). Ground reaction forces and a functionality questionnaire were used to compare devices. A microprocessor locking test was used to evaluate the prototype’s ability to prevent falls. Building on the LIMBS M3, a passive four-bar polycentric device, the E-Knee added sensing, computing, and controlling capabilities for a material cost of $507. Initial data from a two-subject trial served as proof-of-concept to validate the prototype and found that it improved gait by providing more stability than the M3 and had more gait-pattern similarities to the Ottobock C-Leg than to the M3. Patients reported no perceived differences in stability between the E-Knee and the C-Leg. Patient trials supported that the E-Knee prototype behaved more naturally than the low-end M3 device and had similar ground reaction forces to the C-Leg.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-1592/4/1/7transfemoralmicroprocessorprosthetic kneelower limb amputationlow-costartificial limb |
| spellingShingle | Lucas Galey Roger V. Gonzalez Design and Initial Evaluation of a Low-Cost Microprocessor-Controlled Above-Knee Prosthesis: A Case Report of 2 Patients Prosthesis transfemoral microprocessor prosthetic knee lower limb amputation low-cost artificial limb |
| title | Design and Initial Evaluation of a Low-Cost Microprocessor-Controlled Above-Knee Prosthesis: A Case Report of 2 Patients |
| title_full | Design and Initial Evaluation of a Low-Cost Microprocessor-Controlled Above-Knee Prosthesis: A Case Report of 2 Patients |
| title_fullStr | Design and Initial Evaluation of a Low-Cost Microprocessor-Controlled Above-Knee Prosthesis: A Case Report of 2 Patients |
| title_full_unstemmed | Design and Initial Evaluation of a Low-Cost Microprocessor-Controlled Above-Knee Prosthesis: A Case Report of 2 Patients |
| title_short | Design and Initial Evaluation of a Low-Cost Microprocessor-Controlled Above-Knee Prosthesis: A Case Report of 2 Patients |
| title_sort | design and initial evaluation of a low cost microprocessor controlled above knee prosthesis a case report of 2 patients |
| topic | transfemoral microprocessor prosthetic knee lower limb amputation low-cost artificial limb |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-1592/4/1/7 |
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