Passive Ankle-Foot Orthoses: A Novel Approach for Passive Support of Plantar and Dorsiflexion Based on an Innovative Mechanism and Closed-Loop Logic

Steck P, Scherb D, Miehling J, Wartzack S (2025)

Publication Type: Conference contribution

Publication year: 2025

Series: International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition (IMECE)

Conference Proceedings Title: Volume 1: Acoustics, Vibration, and Phononics; Advanced Design and Information Technologies

Event location: Porrtland, OR

DOI: 10.1115/IMECE2024-141399

Abstract

The shifting demographics worldwide signal a looming challenge: an increasingly aging population. Along with this demographic shift comes an increase in age-related health issues, with neurological conditions like strokes being especially prominent. Patients who suffering on such diseases often have a so-called plantar and dorsal weakness, i.e. a reduction in lifting and lowering the foot during gait. An established treatment method is the use of so-called ankle foot orthoses (AFO). While active AFOs offer dynamic support through external energy sources, passive AFOs are more reliable because of the use of their inherent stiffness and the energy provided by the wearer itself. Despite their potential benefits, current passive AFOs predominantly focus on supporting dorsiflexion. Research into the passively support of plantar flexion is still at the beginning and is now to be significantly expanded by the innovative mechanism presented in this article. The mechanism uses torsion springs that harvest energy during specific gait phases and release it when it comes to a trigger moment during the gait cycles. This energy harvesting and supplying were simulatively tested with multi body simulation. The simulations of the mechanism showed support of the ankle moment by 58% (79 Nm) for a test subject with 50% muscle weakening (50 N m) and an average gait speed of 1.4 m s−1.

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How to cite

APA:

Steck, P., Scherb, D., Miehling, J., & Wartzack, S. (2024). Passive Ankle-Foot Orthoses: A Novel Approach for Passive Support of Plantar and Dorsiflexion Based on an Innovative Mechanism and Closed-Loop Logic. In Volume 1: Acoustics, Vibration, and Phononics; Advanced Design and Information Technologies. Porrtland, OR, US.

MLA:

Steck, Patrick, et al. "Passive Ankle-Foot Orthoses: A Novel Approach for Passive Support of Plantar and Dorsiflexion Based on an Innovative Mechanism and Closed-Loop Logic." Proceedings of the ASME 2024 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, Porrtland, OR 2024.

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