title: Design and development of a novel viscoelastic ankle-foot prosthesis based on the human ankle biomechanics.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In the present study, a new approach was applied to design and develop a viscoelastic ankle-foot prosthesis. The aim was to replicate the intact ankle moment-angle loop in the normal walking speed.
  
  
  METHODS
  The moment-angle loop of intact ankle was divided into four parts, and the appropriate models including two viscoelastic units of spring-damper mechanism were considered to replicate the passive ankle dynamics. The developed prototype was then tested on a healthy subject with the amputee gait simulator. The result showed that prosthetic ankle moment-angle loop was similar to that of intact ankle with the distinct four periods.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings suggest that the prototype successfully provided the human ankle passive dynamics. Therefore, the viscoelastic units could imitate the four periods of a normal gait.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The novel viscoelastic foot prosthesis could provide natural ankle dynamics in a gait cycle. Applying simple but biomechanical approach is suggested in conception of new designs for prosthetic ankle-foot mechanisms.
authors: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University (IAU), Tehran, Iran safaee_zahra@yahoo.com.
authors: Zahra
authors: Z
authors: Safaeepour
authors: Department of Biomedical Engineering and Physics, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Ali
authors: A
authors: Esteki
authors: Department of Ergonomics, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Science, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Farhad
authors: F
authors: Tabatabai Ghomshe
authors: Department of Prosthetics and Orthotics, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Science, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Mohammad E
authors: ME
authors: Mousavai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001186:Artificial Limbs; D006801:Humans; D007595:Joint Prosthesis; D008297:Male; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D055682:Viscoelastic Substances; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D055682:Viscoelastic Substances
keywords: Prosthetic foot; prosthetic design; viscoelastic