ORTHOCARE INNOVATIONS LLC — Department of Health and Human Services SBIR Phase II: NICHD

Description

PROJECT SUMMARY Power absorption and generation at the ankle is critical to gait efficiencyjoint healthresidual limb healthand safety in individuals with limb lossRecent research and commercial efforts have resulted in powered foot ankle systemswhich provide powered plantarflexion electromechanicallyreduce metabolic costs of walkingand show reductions in pathological loading of the contralateral limbHoweverthese devices are complexexpensiveheavyand physically largeall factors which limit widespread adoptionThe objective of the energy havesting mesofluidic impulse prosthesise MIPis to create an inexpensivelightweight ankle foot system that does not require a net energy input for powered pushoff plantarflexion and swing phase dorsiflexionThe energy density and bandwidth of high pressuremesoscale hydraulics enables an ankle that can seamlessly harvest the energy normally dissipated in gaitstore energy in fluid accumulatorsand reapply the energy in controlledwell timed power impulsesThe benefits of powered systems are therefore realized in an anthropometric size and weightwith a system complexity that is clinically viable PROJECT NARRATIVE The energy harvesting mesofluidic impulse prosthesise MIPis a prosthetic ankle foot system which biomimetically harvests energy available at the ankle during gaite MIP reapplies this energy in controlled impulses to enable better metabolic efficiency of gaitreduced socket pistoningand healthier joint loading dynamics in individuals with limb loss