Foot Prosthesis Design to Recover the Natural Biomechanical Position in Ramphastos tucanus Specimen

The proper performance of the biomechanics of the body has a key role in animal welfare. For this project, a foot prosthesis was designed for improving the quality of life of a Ramphastos tucanus specimen that presents an amputation at tarsometatarsus level. The main objective is recovering its statics biomechanics through the design and implementation of a prosthetic prototype based on a kinetic analysis. Using the incremental prototypes methodology, the biological system requirements were identified, the technical features were analysed, the prototype was designed by selecting one of three alternatives proposed and analysed by computational methods and then the device was constructed and implemented. Currently is being evaluated. Thanks to the application of an ethogram, it was identified rest as the static position to evaluate in the biomechanical analysis; the adjustment and implementation of a force sensor evidenced an overload on the pelvic limb with the amputation by supporting the 62,3% of the mass of the bird; the biometrics define the prototype size and showed an increase of musculoskeletal mass on the gripped limb; besides, the kinetics study exposed the difference of the force applied by the flexor tendon on surfaces. The design was created using CAD tools, and applying materials as PET-G, stainless steel, and aluminium. The finite element analysis was carried out before implementing the prototype. This process extends to an ongoing adaptation and evaluation protocol designed specifically for the bird, allowing to identify the impact of the prototype over the animal in the different aspects named previously.