Combining Push-Off Power and Nonlinear Damping Behaviors for a Lightweight Motor-Driven Transtibial Prosthesis

Transtibial prostheses play an important role in below-knee amputees' daily activities. Our previous study presented a lightweight prosthesis with damping behaviors, which can adapt to different terrains. However, the proposed prosthesis cannot provide push-off during the stance phase. In this paper, we redesigned the mechanical structure, combining push-off and damping behaviors. The Peking University Robotic Trantibial Prosthesis (PKU-RoboTPro-) II makes a trade-off between push-off power and lightweight. Three unilateral transtibial subjects participated in the study. Gait symmetry and metabolic cost of walking with the proposed prosthesis were evaluated under conditions of three terrains and four walking speeds. The gait symmetry of the subjects using the prosthesis combining push-off and damping behaviors in stance time and ground reaction force distribution are improved. Meanwhile, the PKU-RoboTPro-II with a push-off mode can reduce energy expenditure, with an average 14% ± 8% reduction and a maximal 31% reduction under different conditions, compared with a non-push-off mode. When the weight of the lithium-ion rechargeable battery is 0.28 kg (2.6 Ah), it enables the new prosthesis combining push-off and damping behaviors to walk approximately 10 000 strides, on average.