An artificial gastrocnemius for a transtibial prosthesis
A transtibial amputee does not have a functional gastrocnemius muscle, which affects the knee as well as the ankle joint. In this investigation, we developed a transtibial prosthesis comprising an artificial gastrocnemius mechanism as well as a powered ankle-foot device. A pilot study was conducted...
Main Authors: | , , |
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Other Authors: | |
Format: | Article |
Language: | en_US |
Published: |
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
2010
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Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/52488 https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3169-1011 |
Summary: | A transtibial amputee does not have a functional gastrocnemius muscle, which affects the knee as well as the ankle joint. In this investigation, we developed a transtibial prosthesis comprising an artificial gastrocnemius mechanism as well as a powered ankle-foot device. A pilot study was conducted with a bilateral transtibial amputee walking at a self-selected speed. The trial compared muscle electromyography and metabolic cost data for the amputee while using the active gastrocnemius prosthesis and a conventional Flex-Foot prosthesis. The experimental data showed that the compensation for ankle-foot and gastrocnemius function offered by the active device resulted in a reduced metabolic cost for the amputee participant. |
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