Design of a cost-effective swimming prosthesis for transtibial amputee patients

Abstract

swim fin prosthesis has been manufactured for a transtibial amputee patient by 3D printers using glycol-modified polyethylene terephthalate associated with a video recording analyzer that allows the measurement of the angles of the participant's residual limb. The data provided by the study indicate that the knee flexors present, according to Daniel's scale, the strength of 3.5, the knee extension (quadriceps-rectus femoris) a strength of 4, and the adductors (adductor medius) and abductors (gluteus medius, tensor fascia lata) a strength of 4. Mathematical modeling was performed to determine the critical loading conditions, considering some parameters that affect the mechanics of the transtibial amputee's kick, such as the angular velocity of the kick, drag force, and flipper geometry. Similarly, the mechanical strength of the prosthesis was evaluated by finite element analysis, and it was determined that given the angular velocity of the prosthesis, the maximum stress Von Miss 31.78MPa. In tests, the equipment operated at a pressure of 6.1 kPa.