Low cost prototype development of electronic knee

Introduction With increase in road accidents, machine calamities etc, 5.5 lakhs people in India have lower limb amputations every year and need some kind of prosthesis1. Low cost prosthetic products are not able to perform coordinated and complex movements of a knee joint2,3. Sophisticated electronic knee are very costly (OttoBock cost’s Rs 18-20 lakhs). With the advent of integration of technology, numerous sensors, microcontrollers and accurate feedback controls, orthotic and prosthetic devices will no longer be separate, lifeless mechanisms, but intimate extensions of human body structurally, neurologically and dynamically4. Advances in biomedical engineering have led to introduction of computer-controlled, variabledamping prosthetic knees5,6. With advent in complex feedback sensor and control system, device designs are equipped with high degree of adaptability and reliability7. This paper describes indigenously designed and developed a low cost electro-pneumatic knee by integration of indigenously developed electrogoniometer and force resistive sensor (FSR) in order to control swing phase dynamically.