Thesis
Studies of prosthetic loading by means of pylon transducers
- Creator
- Rights statement
- Awarding institution
- University of Strathclyde
- Date of award
- 1992
- Thesis identifier
- T7162
- Qualification Level
- Qualification Name
- Department, School or Faculty
- Abstract
- The multi-component pylon transducer has been used for several years for prosthetic loading measurements for the assessment of many tasks during various amputee activities with a corresponding number of important results. The project work presented in this thesis was undertaken in order to improve the existing calibration equipment and techniques as well as the methods of analysis relating to the use of the transducer in various prosthetic research applications. The use of an Instron materials testing machine for the calibration of the transducer is reported. The problems encountered during these tests showed that standard dead-weights methods are more appropriate for this purpose, because they rely on fewer components and the introduced unwanted friction can be more readily quantified. Moreover, dead-weights methods followed by former researchers were shown to provide sensitivity coefficients which compared closely to theoretically derived values. Experimental work conducted on the transducer and reported in this thesis showed that the transducer is practically free of second-order effects which may generally affect transducers due to the presence of elastic deformations during actual loading. The alignment of a prosthesis, i.e. the relative position and orientation of its constituent parts in space is important for the function of the artificial leg and the comfort of the amputee. The knowledge established by former researchers on the subject of prosthetic alignment was used in the current project to develop a method for the determination of alignment, based on 3-D modelling of the alignment adaptors adjustability. The new method is reported in this thesis as well as its implementation by a computer program, which calculates the geometrical configuration during fitting and following each adjustment on the limb. This method was used during amputee level walking tests in association with the pylon transducer for measurement of the prosthetic loading. This thesis also reports the development and use of a method for the determination of prosthetic loading during amputee kneeling. This "highly-loaded" position was studied and the first ever amputee tests were conducted involving the simultaneous use of the pylon transducer and two Kistler force platforms. The reported results were subsequently used for reviewing the values in the standards for the structural testing of lower limb prostheses.
- Advisor / supervisor
- Solomonidis, Stephan E.
- Resource Type
- DOI
- EThOS ID
- uk.bl.ethos.262059
Relations
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PDF of thesis T7162 volume 1 | 2025-07-15 | Public | Download |
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PDF of thesis T7162 volume 2 | 2025-07-15 | Public | Download |