title: Synthesis, analysis, and optimization of cam-link prosthetic knee mechanism.
abstract: This paper presents the design of three-bar cam-link prosthetic knee mechanism using the instant centers of a natural knee measured experimentally obtained from literature. The cam in this mechanism is approximated as a nth order polynomial form. The instant centers generated by the mechanism are compared with those of the natural knee and the error is minimized using random search optimization techniques. Also, a tangents-merge method is used to develop the cam profile. Normals to the corresponding instant center radii of the cam are found and merged with suitable radii to get a continuous cam profile with no error at prescribed instant centers. The design gives a prosthesis with fewer links and greater accuracy. Results in the form of cam profiles, transmission angles and radius of curvatures are presented.
authors.affiliation: University of Texas at San Antonio 78249, USA.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Balaraman
authors.forename: Y P
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Singh
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001698:Biomedical Engineering; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000502:physiology; D007720:Knee Prosthesis; D011474:Prosthesis Design