Design of a Compliant Sternum Prosthesis for Improving Respiratory Dynamics

Abstract

This study presents a novel approach to sternum prosthesis design, aiming to address the limitations of the current solutions by employing compliant mechanisms. The research focuses on developing a prosthetic design capable of generating lifting movements on ribs during breathing. First, a videogrammetry experimental test and virtual simulations were conducted to ascertain the vertical forces applied to each sternum joint. Subsequently, a compliant mechanism design was initiated, involving optimization and finite element analysis (FEM). A comprehensive kinematic performance analysis was performed to evaluate the prosthetic design. The results indicate that the obtained displacements of each rib closely align with those reported in the existing literature, demonstrating the effectiveness of the proposed solution. In conclusion, the developed sternum prosthesis exhibits the capability to recover approximately 56% of the ribs’ natural movements, highlighting its potential as an innovative and promising solution in the field of chest prosthetics.