ADVANCES REGARDING POWERED PROSTHESIS FOR TRANSTIBIAL AMPUTATION

Abstract

The necessity for developing advanced prostheses are apparent in light of projections that the forecast for the number of people enduring amputation will double by the year 2050. The transtibial powered prosthesis that enables positive mechanical work about the ankle during the powered plantar flexion aspect of stance phase constitutes a paradigm shift in available transtibial prostheses. The objective of the review is to advocate the state of the art regarding the transtibial powered prosthesis. The historic origins of the prosthesis and motivations for amputation are clarified. The phases of gait and the compensatory mechanisms and asymmetries inherent with passive transtibial prostheses are described. The three general classes of transtibial prosthesis (passive, energy storage and return and powered prostheses) are defined. Subsystems that are integral to the powered prosthesis are explained, such as the series elastic actuator and control architecture. Gait analysis systems and their role for the test and evaluation of energy storage and return and powered prostheses are demonstrated. Future advanced concepts; such as the integration of titin into novel muscle models that account for force enhancement and force depression including their implications for cutting edge bio-inspired actuators are elucidated. The review accounts for the evolution of the prosthetic device with regards to the scope of transtibial amputation and assesses the current state-of-the-art.