Tag Archives: prosthetic leg

Revolutionary Prosthetic Foot achieves human-level flexibility and grip without motors or electronics

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Imagine the constant challenge of navigating everyday life without the natural flexibility of your feet. This is the reality for many amputees who rely on prosthetic feet that can feel clunky and restrictive. These prosthetics often lack the ability to adapt to uneven terrain or provide the natural push-off needed for a smooth gait. However, a groundbreaking design from the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT) is poised to change the game for amputees everywhere. The SoftFoot Pro is a prototype prosthetic foot that is a literal and metaphorical leap forward in prosthetic design, mimicking the structure and movement of the human foot. Unlike conventional prosthetics that prioritize sturdiness or offer minimal flexibility, the SoftFoot Pro boasts an ingenious design that offers human-like foot flexibility and dexterity… without a single motor, servo, circuit board, or battery.

Designer: Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia

Shedding the weight and complexity of motors and electronics, the SoftFoot Pro achieves impressive functionality through a clever combination of mechanics and materials. At its core is a mobile arch mechanism, crafted from lightweight yet robust titanium or aluminum alloy. This arch connects to five parallel chains, made from high-strength plastic segments that replicate the metatarsal and phalange bones of the human foot. Elastic connectors, acting like tendons, link the segments within each chain.

The brilliance of the SoftFoot Pro lies in the details. Running through each chain is an internal steel cable that anchors to the prosthetic’s heel. This cable, along with the elastic connectors, mimics the plantar fascia – the band of tissue in the human foot that stores and releases energy with each step. This ingenious design allows the SoftFoot Pro to absorb impact, propel the user forward with a natural push-off, and even conform to uneven surfaces. This enhanced flexibility translates to greater stability and a more natural gait for users.

Weighing in at a mere 450 grams (1 pound), the SoftFoot Pro is incredibly lightweight despite its ability to support users weighing up to 100 kg (220 lbs). Initial trials conducted at Hannover Medical School and the Medical University of Vienna have yielded promising results. Amputees who participated in the trials experienced a significant improvement in their gait, with increased balance and a more natural walking experience on various terrains.

The applications of the SoftFoot Pro extend beyond human users. Researchers have also successfully tested the design on robots, including the Anymal quadruped robot and the HRP-4 humanoid robot. This versatility highlights the potential of this design to revolutionize not just prosthetics but also the field of robotics.

The post Revolutionary Prosthetic Foot achieves human-level flexibility and grip without motors or electronics first appeared on Yanko Design.

This prosthetic leg grows with your child!

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Prosthetics are expensive and if you have you start using them when you are young, it is an exponential cost that keeps increasing as you grow. It is not convinient or affordable to keep getting new prosthetics, so designer Snezana Jeremic has come up with a concept that grows with you! Ring is an adjustable, custom-made prosthetic leg designed specifically for transtibial amputee children in developing countries to help reduce costs while bettering their quality of life.

The conceptual prosthetic leg aims to make the otherwise rigid medical equipment more flexible especially to fit seamlessly in the life of a growing child. The user will wear the leg and it can be adjusted it as they grow to make sure the fit is always optimal and comfortable. “Ring achieves this thanks to an adjustable foot portion to ensure an optimal stride as well as the upper portion that can be paired with additional rings to suit the person’s body as they grow and develop,” says Jeremic.

Ring is a conversation starter that addresses the need for more modular healthcare equipment. Prosthetics like these make sure that individuals don’t need a whole new device every time they have a growth spurt!

Designer: Snezana Jeremic

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Functional 3D-printed leg: the future is now

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The prosthesis seen in Deus Ex (well, augments) might not be that far off, as we’re already getting ones we can print in the comfort of our homes.

We’re pretty much against self-diagnosis, except in cases of a missing limb – not much of a chance of getting that one wrong. And if you or someone in your life needs help because prosthetic legs, for example, will cost you another limb, there is this concept by Industrial Design student William Root called Exo, which is a clever use of 3d modeling and printing come to solve your woes.

This leg is made by 3d modeling the other one (assuming the patient still has it) and using that data to create a symmetrical version to match. Although the idea of a non-professional made prosthesis might not sound all that appealing to some, the truth is this is a cheap, fast replacement done in minutes. It’s done in titanium powder by using laser sintering, and the design was chosen to reduce materials and weight at the same time, while keeping looks and functionality in mind.

The author has set up a Behance page where users can learn more about this concept. and while this is just a first draft and design flaws are not off the board, it could be the way of the future.

Via Technabob

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No Limits For A Swim

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Combining a prosthetic leg and swimwear in a clever design, Della Tosin hopes to sufficiently enhance an amputee’s swimming experience. The design aims at balancing, maximizing energy return from launch off and flip-turns, and supporting the body through the latest technology. The wearable suit will assist single-leg amputees to compete with regular swimmers.

Here is how it works:

  • Elle leg provides an adjustable air chamber to control buoyancy and help amputees to maintain their streamlined position in the water.
  • The frame will be personalized to match the volume of the amputee’s other leg and it is made out of woven elastane-nylon and polyurethane, a material that repels water to increase buoyancy.
  • Elle leg has a flexed ankle made out of a metal plate to increase energy return, interchangeable to match an individual’s strength, and has an elastic band on the back, which will helps users launch off with reduced energy loss.
  • The prosthetic leg comes with a vacuum socket that reduces pain and improves endurance.
  • It is 3D printed, adjusted to one’s measurement to create the perfect balance.

Designer: Della Tosin

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FIT for EVERYONE

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FIT is an adjustable, custom-made prosthetic leg for transtibial amputee children in developing countries. FIT “grows” along with the child, adjusting to height and leg size to allow continued use over the course of many years. This unique adaptability as well as its super-durability make it a viable, efficient solution specifically for areas of the world where access to medical treatment is limited.

Designer: Oz Benderman

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(FIT for EVERYONE was originally posted on Yanko Design)

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Prosthesis of the Future

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To ensure the most accurate and comfortable fit, the Active Leg prosthetic concept uses structural sheet metal with programmable deformation zones and an internal layer for pressure and temperature measurements. Sound a little complicated? Just wait… it also includes a neuro-circuit sensor that sends and receives info to and from the brain to control electro-active polymers (sort of like a faux-muscle). Pretty cool (even though we might have to wait until the year 2050!).

Designer: Jorge Rui Machado F. Silva

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