Evaluation and Analysis of Different Types of Prosthetic Knee Joint Used by above Knee Amputee

Abstract

Four prosthetic knee joints (polycentric knee weight activating-4bar and friction, extension assist controlled),(single axis knee weight activating and friction, internal extension assist controlled), (single axis knee weight activating-4bar and hydraulically, controlled) and (polycentric knee geometric locking-6bar, hydraulically controlled) for a trans-femoral patient were tested. The tests were conducted to find the maximum velocity as well as discussing the most comfortable prosthetic forthe patient and walking stability for these prosthetic knees by examining the gait cycle and measuring the ground reaction force (GRF), using force a plate device. Also, the interface pressure was measured between socket and stump muscles by using F-socket device to get the stress distribution during walking with a prosthetic knee. Results manifested that the polycentric knee geometric locking - 6bar, hydraulically controlled is the best because of the good homogenous distribution of GRF between the healthy and prosthetic limb, during which the difference between both the healthy and prosthetic limb is with the least value (4%).And, K4 gives the minimum value of differences in contact pressure between the left and right limb with a value of (24%), it alsoimparts the maximum symmetry between the left and right limb according to the gait cycle parameters.The best results of the interface pressures and kinovea velocity are achieved whenK4 is used with (132.4KPa, 0.71m/s), respectively. Finally, the polycentric knee geometric locking - 6bar, hydraulically controlled is the best according to the ANSYS results during which it yields the minimum values of Von-Mises stress with 14.24MPa and a maximum factor of safety of 3.11.