Automated Prosthetic Limb

PROSTHETICS: A prosthesis is an artificial device that replaces a missing body part, which may be lost through trauma, disease, or congenital conditions TYPES OF PROSTHESIS: Upper extremity prostheses: Upper extremity prosthe

Project Title

Automated Prosthetic Limb

Project Area of Specialization

Electrical/Electronic Engineering

Project Summary

PROSTHETICS: A prosthesis is an artificial device that replaces a missing body part, which may be lost through trauma, disease, or congenital conditions

TYPES OF PROSTHESIS:

Upper extremity prostheses:

Upper extremity prostheses are used at varying levels of amputation: forequarter, shoulder disarticulation, transhumeral prosthesis, elbow disarticulation, transradial prosthesis, wrist disarticulation, full hand, partial hand, finger, partial finger.

Lower-extremity prostheses:

Lower-extremity prostheses provide replacements at varying levels of amputation. These include hip disarticulation, transfemoral prosthesis, knee disarticulation, transtibial prosthesis, Syme's amputation, foot, partial foot, and toe. The two main subcategories of lower extremity prosthetic devices are trans-tibial and trans-femoral.A transtibial prosthesis is an artificial limb that replaces a leg missing below the knee. A transtibial amputee is usually able to regain normal movement more readily than someone with a transfemoral amputation, due in large part to retain the knee, which allows for easier movement. Lower extremity prosthetics describes artificially replaced limbs located at the hip level or lower. In the prosthetics industry, a trans-tibial prosthetic leg is often referred to as a "BK" or below the knee prosthesis.

Project Objectives

OBJECTIVE:

The main objective of the present work was the design of the electronic hardware and software for the prosthesis, which worked satisfactorily. Since this will be controlled by muscles of the thigh through deliberate contraction, the wearer has to be trained in its use. Control of knee bending gives a one step improvement to a passive leg prosthesis. The developed prosthesis will need some further mechanical redesigning and refining before it can be made available to people for use. The present model was made using available motors and components, so there is scope for further improvement using more appropriate parts and components. The main benefit of this home grown technology is the service that it can provide to the people in countries like ours at low cost. Usually microcontroller based applications involve sophisticated electronics and software control, detailed information about which are not provided by commercial manufacturers. Therefore repair and maintenance become almost impossible. Making the technology open will ensure repair and maintenance at low cost, and devices will give service for a long time.

Project Implementation Method

 Signal Source

To extract information from muscle activity, one has to understand the basic concepts behind the signal generation. The basic functional element of a muscle is called the motor unit (MU). Each motor unit is connected to an ?-motoneuron. The neuron branches out and contacts all fibers of the MU. These connections are called the neuromuscular junctions. The signal from the neuron causes depolarization in the fibers which travels in both directions from the junction and generates electric current fields. These cause potential changes that can be measured by electrodes. Since all fibers in a MU are controlled by the same nerve, they react as a unit. The signal a MU generates is called motor unit action potential (MUP). The resulting signal of a contracting muscle is the sum of all its simultaneously activated motor units. Before this signal can reach an electrode, it has to travel the remaining tissue on the way. This shapes frequency content with low-pass characteristics and dampens signal amplitude which is mostly affected by distance and decays based on an inverse power relationship. The signal summation of the MUs partly causes phase cancellations. MUs are only weakly synchronized which results in random cancellation effects. This results in less than proportional increase in amplitude with rising MU numbers as well as variable amplitudes and thus has to be considered for signal recording and analysis. In addition, research has shown that MUs are organized in groups called neuromuscular compartments, which can be controlled individually by the central nervous system. To differentiate between compartments, correct relative electrode placement is crucial and several simultaneous recording sites may be beneficial.

Benefits of the Project

The automated prosthetic is an affordable cross-over between pylon prosthetic and an advanced bionic leg which makes it appeal to large masses. ? The use of upper body strength is eliminated and hence walking is not as much tiring as when crutches are used. ? Power consumed for walking is considerably low as only a few power consuming components are used. ? The cup of the prosthetic add-on is custom made for every user and is lined with paddings to support the limb. This results in comfort while walking. ? The prosthetic is compact and is simple in construction. ? The users can quickly adapt to walking with the prosthetic. ? Elimination of amputation of the limb saves the patients from trauma and phantom pain. This also boosts their confidence while using the device.

Technical Details of Final Deliverable

The automated prosthetic is an affordable cross-over between pylon prosthetic and an advanced bionic leg which makes it appeal to large masses. ? The use of upper body strength is eliminated and hence walking is not as much tiring as when crutches are used. ? Power consumed for walking is considerably low as only a few power consuming components are used. ? The cup of the prosthetic add-on is custom made for every user and is lined with paddings to support the limb. This results in comfort while walking. ? The prosthetic is compact and is simple in construction. ? The users can quickly adapt to walking with the prosthetic. ? Elimination of amputation of the limb saves the patients from trauma and phantom pain. This also boosts their confidence while using the device.

Final Deliverable of the Project

HW/SW integrated system

Core Industry

Medical

Other Industries

Health

Core Technology

Others

Other Technologies

3D/4D Printing, Robotics

Sustainable Development Goals

Good Health and Well-Being for People, Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

Required Resources

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