Research Projects

This proposal aims to design and fabricate an optimized transtibial prosthesis for below knee amputees, aiming to improve their comfort and functional capabilities at an affordable price. The use of CAD, Finite Element Method (FEM), and Additive Manufacturing Techniques will be employed to enhance precision in manufacturing the component. A generic innovation process is proposed within the ambit of 'Make in India' and 'Atmanirbhar Bharat'. The proposal focuses on dynamic computations using FE method for simulating contact, fatigue, wear, and gait, as well as designing the prosthetic socket with reduced contact regions and shear stresses to curb skin disorders and infections in amputees. A self-fitting socket can be designed to adjust according to changes in the patient's stump measurements. The main scientific objective is to improve the quality of life for below knee amputees by bypassing problems related to secondary skin disorders due to contact, altered gait, and reduced functionality. The project involves developing protocols for establishing a feedback mechanism between patients, clinicians, and engineers, identifying and ranking the severity of problems in existing prosthesis users, selecting appropriate materials for the socket, pylon, connectors, and feet regions, developing computational models using meshmixer and CAD, performing numerical analysis of the developed socket using FEM, 3D printing the socket, fabricating non-socket regions, and clinical testing and validating the prototype. Key issues to be addressed include minimization of socket pressure and contact stresses leading to irritations/infections, achieving natural gait with the designed prosthesis, and increasing functionality and confidence of the amputee.