Abstract

Since antiquity, health professionals have sought ways to provide and improve prosthetic devices to ease the suffering of those living with limb loss. Mid-century modern engineering techniques, in part, developed and funded by the American industrial war effort, led to numerous innovations and standardization of mass-customized products. Followed by the Digital Revolution, we are now experiencing the roboticization of prosthetic limbs. As innovations have come and gone, some essential technologies have been forgotten or ignored. Many successful products have been commercialized, but unfortunately, they are often rationed to those who need them most. Here we present a prototype device based on many prior discoveries, utilizing commercially available parts when possible. This device has the potential to reduce the overall costs of powered robotic prosthetics, making them accessible to those with knee instability or the fear of falling. Additional benefits of this device are that it is designed to improve the kinematic and kinetic symmetry of the lower extremities, including the hips. We will design, prototype, and test this robotic prosthetic leg for feasibility and safe performance.

KEYWORDS: ENGINEERING, LIMB LOSS, FEAR OF FALLING, POWERED ROBOTIC PROSTHETIC LEG, PROTOTYPE

LLU Discipline

Rehabilitation Sciences

Department

Rehabilitation Sciences

School

School of Allied Health Professions

First Advisor

Noha Daher

Second Advisor

Thomas Fryer

Third Advisor

Johannes Schaepper

Fourth Advisor

Duc Tran

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Degree Level

Ph.D.

Year Degree Awarded

2022

Date (Title Page)

5-2022

Language

English

Library of Congress/MESH Subject Headings

Artificial Limbs; Biomechanical Phenomena; Robotics

Type

Dissertation

Page Count

xviii, 127 p.

Digital Format

PDF

Digital Publisher

Loma Linda University Libraries

Usage Rights

This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Collection

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Collection Website

http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/

Repository

Loma Linda University. Del E. Webb Memorial Library. University Archives

Download

Share

COinS