A mechatronic system for achieving optimum alignment of lower limb prosthesis
Misalignment in the lower limb prosthesis can cause great discomfort in the stumpsocket interface and disturbance to gait function. In the long run, it could deteriorate the musculoskeletal system. In practice, the assessment still depends heavily on the verbal feedback of an amputee and experien...
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| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2011
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://eprints.uthm.edu.my/3092/1/24p%20TEE%20KIAN%20SEK.pdf |
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| Summary: | Misalignment in the lower limb prosthesis can cause great discomfort in the stumpsocket
interface and disturbance to gait function. In the long run, it could deteriorate
the musculoskeletal system. In practice, the assessment still depends heavily on the
verbal feedback of an amputee and experiences of a prosthetist. Moreover it is
inconsistent amongst the prosthetists.
Prosthetic alignment involves the adjustment of the prosthetic components
relative to the gait quality. Some methods were proposed, including symmetry
index, variation in a step-to-step transition, stability within the zone of integrated
balance, matching roll-over shape (ROS) to an ideal ROS and etc. It is not clear if
the optimum alignment could be achieved. These methods exhibit a few limitations,
i.e. limited use of gait variables in a single comparison and non-uniform results
when different gait variables are applied. There is a need to provide an objective
assessment method that processes high dimensional gait variables and presents them
in a simple form. In addition, it could be impractical and expensive clinically to
spend excessive time on a patient. An ambulatory gait measurement system could
achieve this objective to a certain extent.
This research investigates a potential engineering solution that is able to
provide an assistive and objective assessment of the lower limb prosthetic alignment
that provides optimal gait quality.
The effort includes a development of a low-cost ambulatory gait
measurement system which could be reliably used during indoor and outdoor trials.
Human walking trials using the designed ambulatory system are designed and
performed to justify the proposed solution. A novel gait analysis method using
Principle Component Analysis and Self-Organizing Feature Map is proposed to
process high dimensional gait data into a simple plot and a decision guide. The
proposed methodology could help to collect sufficient gait data during indoor and
outdoor gaits and could provide an objective gait assessment during the application
of lower limb prosthetic alignments. |
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