A passive dorsiflexing ankle prosthesis to increase minimum foot clearance during swing

Abstract The biological ankle dorsiflexes several degrees during swing to provide adequate clearance between the foot and ground, but conventional energy storage return (ESR) prosthetic feet remain in their neutral position, increasing risk of toe scuffs tripping. We present a new intended reduce fall by dorsiflexing joint swing, thereby minimum ground. Unlike previous approaches providing dorsiflexion such as powered ankles or hydraulic systems with dissipative yielding stance, our device features spring-loaded linkage that adopts angle allowing ESR, dorsiflexed swing. unit was designed, fabricated, assessed level ground walking trials on unilateral transtibial prosthesis user experimentally validate its stance phase behaviors. assessment consisted three conditions: an operational configuration, locked configuration (unable dorsiflex), subject’s daily use ESR prosthesis. When operational, (MFC) increased 13 mm relative 15 his Stance not significantly impacted configuration. increase MFC provided passive may be sufficient decrease rate falls experienced users real world.