Properties of Materials and Models of Prosthetic Feet: A Review

Abstract

Prosthetic limbs fabricate devices that provide amputees with a replacement for their missing limbs, restoring some function. These artificial feet are not as multifunctional as natural feet, but they improve the patient’s performance level. Considering prosthetic feet, in particular, selecting a device is based on how favorably a device matches the human foot’s characteristics. Prosthetic feet are designed to meet required values for tensile strength, density, corrosion resistance, shear strength, flexibility, durability, and cost-efficiency. The above considerations depend on the properties of the material used, the foot’s design, and the manufacturing process applied. In the manufacture of the prosthetic foot, polymers composite reinforced with fibers have been used. Their characteristics confirm a constant and low weight structure that makes it possible for agglomeration, distribution, and energy storage through walking, making a certain rise in gait effectiveness. Depending on the composite’s adjustment in terms of fiber choice, their system, type of mixture and mass content, and the prosthesis design, the foot gets change effectiveness as the ratio of energy unconfined to energy assembled. In this paper, the biomechanics, materials, and models of the prosthetic foot have been reviewed.

A Scoping Review of Pressure Measurements in Prosthetic Sockets of Transfemoral Amputees during Ambulation: Key Considerations for Sensor Design

“…However, these technical challenges are being overcome due to the emergence of wearable, cheap, and technically sophisticated sensing technology for health monitoring [ 41 , 42 , 43 ]. Breakthroughs, tested in the smart health domain, have occurred in wireless technology for data-intensive applications [ 44 ], power harvesting [ 45 ], security [ 46 ], analytics [ 47 ], rapid prototyping and manufacturing [ 48 ], and materials [ 49 ]. The likelihood that easily deployed, cheap, and reliable pressure sensors systems for clinical use will emerge has thus drastically increased during the last few years, even if several challenges remain.…”

Advancements, Trends and Future Prospects of Lower Limb Prosthesis

“…Results showed that permanent deformation & changes occur in resistance at heel within only 5,000 cycles performed for an amputee of 100 Kg weight. Materials mentioned in [44] are being used to manufacture SACH include polypropylene, polythene polymer, composites, Carbon, glass, and Kevlar fibers. Another development [45], [46] of dynamic foot ESAR (energy storing and return) is preferred because of its elastic behavior for gait symmetry.…”

Characterization of flexural and compressive behavior in polylactic acid composites for low‐cost transtibial prosthetic applications: Influence of reinforcements

“…Traditional materials like wood and metal have been utilized in prosthetic foot construction, but their weight and limited erosion resistance have proven to be significant drawbacks. 45,46 As a result, polymer composites 14,[16][17][18][19][47][48][49] have emerged as a lightweight alternative with enhanced corrosion and fatigue resistance, offering amputees greater comfort and durability. 50,51 Within the FFF technique, the IFP plays a crucial role in providing structural support during the printing process.…”

“…PLA provides a reliable foundation for creating prosthetic feet and sockets with excellent structural integrity and functional properties. Traditional materials like wood and metal have been utilized in prosthetic foot construction, but their weight and limited erosion resistance have proven to be significant drawbacks 45,46 . As a result, polymer composites 14,16–19,47–49 have emerged as a lightweight alternative with enhanced corrosion and fatigue resistance, offering amputees greater comfort and durability 50,51 …”