Feasibility and Design of a Low-Cost Prosthetic Knee Joint Using a Compliant Member for Stance-Phase Control

This paper is concerned with the feasibility and design of a low-cost prosthetic knee joint that uses a compliant member for stance-phase control. A mechanical locking mechanism was used in conjunction with a compliant control axis to achieve automatic stance-phase locking. The concept was developed with the aid of computer-aided engineering software and was validated through the fabrication and testing of a simplified prototype made of an injection moldable polymer. A prosthetic knee joint was then designed, incorporating the compliant member concept. After modeling, fabrication, and laboratory testing, a pilot study was conducted in a clinical setting. A simple gait analysis showed asymmetric gait patterns that demonstrated the need for improved swing-phase control and damping, while qualitative feedback indicated the desire to reduce the noise produced by the knee. The knee provided the automatic stance-phase control for which it was designed and shows significant potential to evolve into a highly functioning, low-cost knee.