Method of measuring the performance of a prosthetic foot
A method of measuring the performance of a prosthetic foot includes obtaining a pressure distribution of the prosthetic foot during a motion of the prosthetic foot and determining whether the pressure distribution falls within a preselected range of performance values for the prosthetic foot. The pressure distribution comprises a trajectory illustrating the progression of a center of pressure of the prosthetic foot during motion. A prosthetic foot can also be designed to approximate a pressure distribution corresponding to a preselected range of performance values.
1. A method of measuring prosthetic foot gait characteristics, comprising:
obtaining a pressure distribution of a prosthetic foot during motion of the prosthetic foot, wherein the pressure distribution comprises a trajectory of center of pressure values obtained during rollover of the prosthetic foot ; and
storing the pressure distribution of the prosthetic foot in a storage medium.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pressure distribution is measured using a surface incorporating a plurality of sensors, wherein the prosthetic foot moves over the surface, said sensors sensing a force exerted by at least a portion of the prosthetic foot on the surface, the sensors communicating said sensed force to a computer.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprises displaying the stored pressure distribution as an image through an output device.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the image comprises an image of a sole of the prosthetic foot and the pressure distribution.
5. The method of claim 4 , further comprises displaying a second pressure distribution of a second prosthetic foot as a second image.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the second image comprises an image of a sole of the second prosthetic foot and the second pressure distribution.
7. The method of claim 3 , further comprises displaying a second pressure distribution of a human foot.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the pressure distribution of the human foot is displayed on an image of the human foot.
9. The method of claim 3 , wherein displaying the pressure distribution includes displaying a trajectory of the pressure distribution, wherein the smoothness of the trajectory demonstrates the performance of the prosthetic foot.
10. The method of claim 3 , wherein displaying the pressure distribution includes displaying a plurality of pressure points, wherein the frequency of the pressure points demonstrates the performance of the prosthetic foot.
11. The method of claim 3 , wherein displaying the pressure distribution includes displaying a plurality of pressure points, wherein the spacing of the pressure points demonstrates the performance of the prosthetic foot.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the stored pressure distribution approximates a desired pressure distribution corresponding to a range of rollover performance values.
13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising designing a prosthetic foot so that the stored pressure distribution approximates a desired pressure distribution corresponding to a range of rollover performance values.
14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising manufacturing a prosthetic foot so that the stored pressure distribution approximates a desired pressure distribution corresponding to a range of rollover performance values.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the obtaining the pressure distribution further comprises generating a center of pressure profile.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the stored pressure distribution substantially approximates a rollover of a natural human foot.
17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the stored pressure distribution comprises a range of rollover performance values comprising a desired range of anterior-posterior motion.
18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the stored pressure distribution comprises a range of rollover performance values comprising a desired range of medial-lateral motion.
19. The method of claim 1 , comprising obtaining a frequency of pressure points in the pressure distribution.
20. The method of claim 1 , wherein the stored pressure distribution comprises a range of rollover performance values defined by a smoothness of a trajectory of the pressure distribution.
21. A method of measuring a prosthetic foot, comprising:
obtaining a pressure distribution of a prosthetic foot during motion of the prosthetic foot, wherein the pressure distribution comprises a trajectory of center of pressure values obtained during rollover of the prosthetic foot, and
redesigning or modifying the prosthetic foot for a user of the prosthetic foot based on the pressure distribution.
22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the redesigning or modifying of the prosthetic foot is further based on comparing the pressure distribution to a desired pressure distribution stored in a storage medium.
23. The method of claim 21 , wherein the redesigning or modifying the prosthetic foot is performed during manufacturing of the prosthetic foot.
24. The method of claim 2 , wherein the surface incorporating a plurality of sensors is decoupled from the prosthetic foot.
25. The method of claim 23 , wherein the redesigning or modifying of the prosthetic foot is further based on comparing the pressure distribution to a desired pressure distribution stored in a storage medium.