Journal of Biomedical Engineering and Medical Devices
Open Access

Abstract

Design of an Adaptive Knee-Brace to Assist Post Arthroplasty Locomotion

Utkarsh Sharma, Kailash Chandra Sharma

With the continuous improvement in medical technology, arthroplasty surgeries have become more frequent over the decades. DFMA (or Design for manufacturing and assembly) techniques [1] are being adopted by the current generation of industrial engineers and product designers in order to provide more accurately detailed and robust solutions to the design requirements. Since modern Arthroplasty relies heavily on replacement prosthesis, it is essential to provide an external support source to allow the patient to accommodate to the current surgical changes in their body. It is an immediate requirement that, after total knee arthroplasty, the limb actuators during locomotion get external support from a framework or exoskeleton to distribute the loading of the reaction forces during every possible gait action. Since different gait cycles have different load distribution and frequency response for relaxation, it is necessary that an adaptive knee brace considering these parameters is designed for our patients. We address these aforementioned objectives through rapid prototyping design techniques.

Published Date: 2021-09-15;