With 100,000 knee replacement operations performed every year in the UK, lower limb amputation has a profound effect on the daily lives of many.
To help combat this, a pioneering research project at the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol), led by researcher Dr Appolinaire Etoundiat, has been given the green light. The plan is to develop a bio-inspired ‘smart’ knee joint for prosthetic lower limbs. Once the research is completed it will be tested by Andy Lewis, a Rio Paralympic Triathlon Gold Medallist and through-the-knee amputee.
“It will be interesting to see what he discovers that might make a better prosthetic which is more responsive”
Andy says: “I was pleased when Appo approached me. He understands the importance of a good prosthetic for sports people, and it will be interesting to see what he discovers that might make a better prosthetic which is more responsive. I am looking forward to seeing his early designs next year and trying them out.”
Bio-inspired
Research, based at the university’s Bristol Robotics Lab, will cover the analysis of the functions, features and mechanisms of the human knee in order to translate this information into a new bio-inspired procedure for designing prosthetics.
“I want to create a prosthetic knee that will give the greatest range of motion with the least friction”
Dr Etoundi (pictured left) says: “I have spent years designing knee joints for humanoid robots, but the human knee has evolved over millions of years and is incredibly successful. The human knee is a very complex joint with ligaments, which guide the motion of the knee, and bones that perform the motion. Current mechanisms in prosthetic knees have a straightforward pin joint with ball bearings that does not have the sophisticated range of motion and stability of the human knee with its cruciate ligaments.
“The complex interaction between the soft tissue (ligaments) and the bones in the knee joint is an area that has yet to be replicated in prosthetics. We need to understand this better in order to provide a better knee joint for people to use. I will study the different mechanisms within the knee joint and look for ways to translate its beneficial functionalities into a design concept for prosthetics.
“I want to create a prosthetic knee that will give the greatest range of motion with the least friction, enabling walking, climbing stairs, squatting and stability, while also offering important attributes of current prosthetics and the benefits of robotic technology.”
The full research team includes Professor Richie Gill (University of Bath), Dr Ravi Vaidyanathan (Imperial College London) and Dr Michael Whitehouse (University of Bristol).
To find out more about this research and other research taking place in the same facility, check out the Bristol Robotics Lab website or follow them on Twitter here: @BristolRobotLab. You can also find out more about research at UWE Bristol on the UWE Bristol website or follow them here: @UWEBristol.
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