Simulation of an active ankle prosthesis of one degree of freedom

Abstract

In this paper is presented the design of an active ankle prosthesis with a single degree of freedom (DoF) actuated by a linear actuator. The analysis is focused in the plantar base that shall allow the impacts absorption in gait cycle with the aim to replace the human lower limb of a person who has suffered ankle amputation. For the design it has been simulated the natural motion of a human ankle which trajectory is known for previous studies based in a biomechanical analysis of the same. For the static structural analysis has been used finite elements software ANSYS, obtaining data of stress, deformation and security factor which allow choose and couple properly the ideal linear actuator for the kind of patient and, the properly thickness of the plantar base with which the prosthesis will be built to avoid mechanic failures.