TY - THES

T1 - Prosthetic Foot Design through Parametric Modelling to Enhance Customisation and Iterative Development

AU - Hashw, Yasmin

N1 - no embargo

PY - 2024

Y1 - 2024

N2 - Amputation is a life-changing experience, typically resulting from medical conditions or trauma. For many individuals, the loss of a limb can cause profound emotional distress and may contribute to mental health challenges. Participation in physical activities, par-ticularly mountaineering sports, can significantly help to enhance both physical and men-tal well-being. However, many prosthetic devices are not specifically designed to meet the demands of rugged terrains, often offering only limited support for an active lifestyle. Additionally, most prosthetic limbs fail to accommodate the unique gait patterns and individual needs of amputees, as many are developed using a one-size-fits-all approach. Furthermore, the development process for prosthetic feet typically relies on elaborate trial-and-error testing methods to optimise their performance. This approach can be both time-consuming and costly. To address these challenges, this thesis proposes the development of a parametric design model for prosthetic feet, which aims to overcome the limitations of standardised prosthet-ics by enabling customisation that aligns with individual functional requirements. In addi-tion, the model seeks to streamline the preliminary development process of prosthetic feet. The Grasshopper-based model facilitates real-time, user-specific adjustments, incorporat-ing parameters such as body mass, foot size, activity level, and individual gait patterns. The key strengths of this model lie in its modularity and adaptability. The modular design enables the accommodation of a variety of applications, with specialised components easily replaceable or adaptable. This versatility allows for rapid prototyping and compo-nents of the Grasshopper script, such as the foot blade, can also be repurposed for or-thotic designs tailored to individual biomechanics, extending potential use cases beyond sports applications. The proof of concept for such an approach was made, creating the potential to significantly enhance user mobility and overall quality of life of amputees.

AB - Amputation is a life-changing experience, typically resulting from medical conditions or trauma. For many individuals, the loss of a limb can cause profound emotional distress and may contribute to mental health challenges. Participation in physical activities, par-ticularly mountaineering sports, can significantly help to enhance both physical and men-tal well-being. However, many prosthetic devices are not specifically designed to meet the demands of rugged terrains, often offering only limited support for an active lifestyle. Additionally, most prosthetic limbs fail to accommodate the unique gait patterns and individual needs of amputees, as many are developed using a one-size-fits-all approach. Furthermore, the development process for prosthetic feet typically relies on elaborate trial-and-error testing methods to optimise their performance. This approach can be both time-consuming and costly. To address these challenges, this thesis proposes the development of a parametric design model for prosthetic feet, which aims to overcome the limitations of standardised prosthet-ics by enabling customisation that aligns with individual functional requirements. In addi-tion, the model seeks to streamline the preliminary development process of prosthetic feet. The Grasshopper-based model facilitates real-time, user-specific adjustments, incorporat-ing parameters such as body mass, foot size, activity level, and individual gait patterns. The key strengths of this model lie in its modularity and adaptability. The modular design enables the accommodation of a variety of applications, with specialised components easily replaceable or adaptable. This versatility allows for rapid prototyping and compo-nents of the Grasshopper script, such as the foot blade, can also be repurposed for or-thotic designs tailored to individual biomechanics, extending potential use cases beyond sports applications. The proof of concept for such an approach was made, creating the potential to significantly enhance user mobility and overall quality of life of amputees.

KW - prosthetic

KW - parametric modelling

KW - amputation

KW - medical engineering

KW - prosthetic leg

KW - additive manufacturing

KW - biomechanics

KW - computer aided design

KW - grasshopper

KW - Prothesen

KW - parametrische Modellierung

KW - Amputation

KW - Medizintechnik

KW - Beinprothese

KW - additive Fertigung

KW - Biomechanik

KW - computergestütztes Design

KW - Grasshopper

M3 - Master's Thesis

ER -