Design and Validation of a Semi-Active Variable Stiffness Foot Prosthesis

• Published in: IEEE transactions on neural systems and rehabilitation engineering Vol. 26; no. 12; pp. 2351 - 2359
• Main Authors: Glanzer, Evan M., Adamczyk, Peter G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States IEEE 01.12.2018; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Actuation; Ankle; Batteries; Belts; Composite beams; Design; Energy storage; Feet; Foot; Gait; Inertial sensing devices; Keels; Legged locomotion; lower limb; Mechanical properties; Mechanical tests; Power consumption; Power demand; Prostheses; Prosthetics; Ramps; Springs; Stiffness; variable stiffness

This paper presents the design and validation of a novel lower limb prosthesis called the variable stiffness foot (VSF), designed to vary its forefoot stiffness in response to user activity. The VSF is designed as a semi-active device that adjusts its stiffness once per stride during swing phases, i...