The kinematic equivalent model of an existing ankle-rehabilitation robot is inconsistent with the anatomical structure of the human ankle,which influences the rehabilitation effect.Therefore,this study equates the hum...The kinematic equivalent model of an existing ankle-rehabilitation robot is inconsistent with the anatomical structure of the human ankle,which influences the rehabilitation effect.Therefore,this study equates the human ankle to the UR model and proposes a novel three degrees of freedom(3-DOF)generalized spherical parallel mechanism for ankle rehabilitation.The parallel mechanism has two spherical centers corresponding to the rotation centers of tibiotalar and subtalar joints.Using screw theory,the mobility of the parallel mechanism,which meets the requirements of the human ankle,is analyzed.The inverse kinematics are presented,and singularities are identified based on the Jacobian matrix.The workspaces of the parallel mechanism are obtained through the search method and compared with the motion range of the human ankle,which shows that the parallel mechanism can meet the motion demand of ankle rehabilitation.Additionally,based on the motion-force transmissibility,the performance atlases are plotted in the parameter optimal design space,and the optimum parameter is obtained according to the demands of practical applications.The results show that the parallel mechanism can meet the motion requirements of ankle rehabilitation and has excellent kinematic performance in its rehabilitation range,which provides a theoretical basis for the prototype design and experimental verification.展开更多
The current parallel ankle rehabilitation robot(ARR)suffers from the problem of difficult real-time alignment of the human-robot joint center of rotation,which may lead to secondary injuries to the patient.This study ...The current parallel ankle rehabilitation robot(ARR)suffers from the problem of difficult real-time alignment of the human-robot joint center of rotation,which may lead to secondary injuries to the patient.This study investigates type synthesis of a parallel self-alignment ankle rehabilitation robot(PSAARR)based on the kinematic characteristics of ankle joint rotation center drift from the perspective of introducing"suitable passive degrees of freedom(DOF)"with a suitable number and form.First,the self-alignment principle of parallel ARR was proposed by deriving conditions for transforming a human-robot closed chain(HRCC)formed by an ARR and human body into a kinematic suitable constrained system and introducing conditions of"decoupled"and"less limb".Second,the relationship between the self-alignment principle and actuation wrenches(twists)of PSAARR was analyzed with the velocity Jacobian matrix as a"bridge".Subsequently,the type synthesis conditions of PSAARR were proposed.Third,a PSAARR synthesis method was proposed based on the screw theory and type of PSAARR synthesis conducted.Finally,an HRCC kinematic model was established to verify the self-alignment capability of the PSAARR.In this study,93 types of PSAARR limb structures were synthesized and the self-alignment capability of a human-robot joint axis was verified through kinematic analysis,which provides a theoretical basis for the design of such an ARR.展开更多
Aiming at the problem that the existing ankle rehabilitation robot is difficult to fully fit the complex motion of human ankle joint and has poor human-machine motion compatibility,an equivalent series mechanism model...Aiming at the problem that the existing ankle rehabilitation robot is difficult to fully fit the complex motion of human ankle joint and has poor human-machine motion compatibility,an equivalent series mechanism model that is highly matched with the actual bone structure of the human ankle joint is proposed and mapped into a parallel rehabilita-tion mechanism.The parallel rehabilitation mechanism has two virtual motion centers(VMCs),which can simulate the complex motion of the ankle joint,adapt to the individual differences of various patients,and can meet the reha-bilitation needs of both left and right feet of patients.Firstly,based on the motion properties and physiological structure of the human ankle joint,the mapping relationship between the rehabilitation mechanism and ankle joint is determined,and the series equivalent model of the ankle joint is established.According to the kinematic and con-straint properties of the ankle equivalent model,the configuration design of the parallel ankle rehabilitation robot is carried out.Secondly,according to the intersecting motion planes theory,the full-cycle mobility of the mechanism is proved,and the continuous axis of the mechanism is judged based on the constraint power and its derivative.Then,the kinematics of the parallel ankle rehabilitation robot is analyzed.Finally,based on the OpenSim biomechanical soft-ware,a human-machine coupling rehabilitation simulation model is established to evaluate the rehabilitation effect,which lays the foundation for the formulation of a rehabilitation strategy for the later prototype.展开更多
The objective of this study is to investigate the biomechanical functions of the human ankle-toot complex during the stancephase of walking. The three-dimensional (3D) gait measurement was conducted by using a 3D infr...The objective of this study is to investigate the biomechanical functions of the human ankle-toot complex during the stancephase of walking. The three-dimensional (3D) gait measurement was conducted by using a 3D infrared multi-camera system anda force plate array to record the Ground Reaction Forces (GRF) and segmental motions simultaneously. The ankle-foot complexwas modelled as a four-segment system, connected by three joints: talocrural joint, sub-talar joint and metatarsophalangeal joint.The subject-specific joint orientations and locations were determined using a functional joint method based on the particleswarm optimisation algorithm. The GRF moment arms and joint moments acting around the talocrural and sub-talar joints werecalculated over the entire stance phase. The estimated talocrural and sub-talar joint locations show noticeable obliquity. Thekinematic and kinetic results strongly suggest that the human ankle-foot complex works as a mechanical mechanism with twodifferent configurations in stance phase of walking. These lead to a significant decrease in the GRF moment arms therebyincreasing the effective mechanical advantages of the ankle plantarflexor muscles. This reconfigurable mechanism enhancesmuscle effectiveness during locomotion by modulating the gear ratio of the ankle plantarflexor muscles in stance. This studyalso reveals many factors may contribute to the locomotor function of the human ankle-foot complex, which include not only itsre-configurable structure, but also its obliquely arranged joints, the characteristic heel-to-toe Centre of Pressure (COP) motionand also the medially acting GRF pattern. Although the human ankle-foot structure is immensely complex, it seems that itsconfiguration and each constitutive component are well tuned to maximise locomotor efficiency and also to minimise risk ofinjury. This result would advance our understanding of the locomotor function of the ankle-foot complex, and also the intrinsicdesign of the ankle-foot musculoskeletal structure. Moreover, this may also provide implications for the design of bionicprosthetic devices and the development of humanoid robots.展开更多
Background:End-stage ankle arthritis impairs joint function and patients' mobility.Total ankle replacement is a surgical procedure to treat severe ankle arthritis.Salto Talaris Anatomic Ankle^(TM)(STAA) was design...Background:End-stage ankle arthritis impairs joint function and patients' mobility.Total ankle replacement is a surgical procedure to treat severe ankle arthritis.Salto Talaris Anatomic Ankle^(TM)(STAA) was designed to mimic the normal ankle anatomy and flexion/extension of the ankle movement.The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of an STAA ankle replacement on ankle joint function and mechanics during gait.Methods:Five patients with end-stage unilateral ankle arthritis were recruited.Patients performed level walking in a laboratory setting on 2occasions,prior to and 3 months after the STAA ankle surgeries.American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society(AOFAS) hindfoot score was obtained.A 12-camera motion capture system was used to perform walking analysis.Gait temporo-spatial parameters and ankle joint mechanics were evaluated.Paired Student's t tests and non-parametric Wilcoxon matched tests were performed to examine the differences in biomechanical variables between the pre-and post-surgery walking conditions.Results:Compared to the pre-surgical condition,at 3 months of post-STAA surgery,patients experienced greater improvement in AOFAS hindfoot score(p = 0.0001);the STAA ankle demonstrated a 31% increase in ankle joint excursion(p = 0.045),a 22% increase in ankle plantarflexor moment(p = 0.075),a 60% increase in ankle power absorption(p = 0.023),and a 68% increase in ankle power production(p = 0.039).Patients also demonstrated a 26% increase in walking speed(p = 0.005),a 20% increase in stride length(p = 0.013),a 15% decrease in double support time(p = 0.043),and a 5% decrease in total stance time(p = 0.055).Conclusion:Three months after surgeries,the STAA patients experienced improvements in ankle function and gait parameters.The STAA ankle demonstrated improved ankle mechanics during daily activities such as walking.展开更多
Knee osteoarthritis(OA) is a progressive joint disease hallmarked by cartilage and bone breakdown and associated with changes to all of the tissues in the joint,ultimately causing pain,stiffness,deformity and disabili...Knee osteoarthritis(OA) is a progressive joint disease hallmarked by cartilage and bone breakdown and associated with changes to all of the tissues in the joint,ultimately causing pain,stiffness,deformity and disability in many people.Radiographs are commonly used for the clinical assessment of knee OA incidence and progression,and to assess for risk factors.One risk factor for the incidence and progression of knee OA is malalignment of the lower extremities(LE).The hipknee-ankle(HKA) angle,assessed from a full-length LE radiograph,is ideally used to assess LE alignment.Careful attention to LE positioning is necessary to obtain the most accurate measurement of the HKA angle.Since full-length LE radiographs are not always available,the femoral shaft-tibial shaft(FS-TS) angle may be calculated from a knee radiograph instead.However,the FS-TS angle is more variable than the HKA angle and it should be used with caution.Knee radiographs are used to assess the severity of knee OA and its progression.There are three types of ordinal grading scales for knee OA:global,composite and individual feature scales.Each grade on a global scale describes one or more features of knee OA.The entire description must be met for a specific grade to be assigned.The KellgrenLawrence scale is the most commonly-used global scale.Composite scales grade several features of knee OA individually and sum the grades to create a total score.One example is the compartmental grading scale for knee OA.Composite scales can respond to change in a variety of presentations of knee OA.Individual feature scales assess one or more OA features individually and do not calculate a total score.They are most often used to monitor change in one OA feature,commonly joint space narrowing.The most commonly-used individual feature scale is the OA Research Society International atlas.Each type of scale has its advantages;however,composite scales may offer greater content validity.Responsiveness to change is unknown for most scales and deserves further evaluation.展开更多
In this study, the design of an automatic ROM-Exercise machine that is constructed witha planar multililnk mechamsm consisting of only revolute pairs is investigated. Namely, equations thatdetermine the minimum moving...In this study, the design of an automatic ROM-Exercise machine that is constructed witha planar multililnk mechamsm consisting of only revolute pairs is investigated. Namely, equations thatdetermine the minimum moving spaces and relative positions of link required to construct the legmechanism are formulated with consideration of transform functions. For the leg mechanism that isconstructed with a planar eleven-link mechanism, arrangements of each link and optimum linkprofiles avoided mutual interferences among moving links are determined wb consideration of therelative locations of each link in the same plane during a cycle of motion of the mechanism. Based onthe above analytical results, an automatic ROM-Exercise machine that performs within a minimum moving spaces is proposed as a prachcal example. ms study is carried out as part of the students'computcr education to the graduation thesis, in order to improve their creativity and machine designtechnology skills in coniunction with educational advantages. Significam educational results areobtained by using the design techniques mentioned above.展开更多
A variety of prosthetic ankles have been successfully developed to reproduce the locomotor ability for lower limb amputees in daily lives. However, they have not been shown to sufficiently improve the natural gait mec...A variety of prosthetic ankles have been successfully developed to reproduce the locomotor ability for lower limb amputees in daily lives. However, they have not been shown to sufficiently improve the natural gait mechanics commonly observed in comparison to the able-bodied, perhaps due to over-simplified designs of functional musculoskeletal structures in prostheses. In this study, a flexible bionic ankle prosthesis with joints covered by soft material inclusions is developed on the basis of the human musculoskeletal system. First, the healthy side ankle–foot bones of a below-knee amputee were reconstructed by CT imaging. Three types of polyurethane rubber material configurations were then designed to mimic the soft tissues around the human ankle, providing stability and flexibility. Finite element simulations were conducted to determine the proper design of the rubber materials, evaluate the ankle stiffness under different external conditions, and calculate the rotation axes of the ankle during walking. The results showed that the bionic ankle had variable stiffness properties and could adapt to various road surfaces. It also had rotation axes similar to that of the human ankle, thus restoring the function of the talocrural and subtalar joints. The inclination and deviation angles of the talocrural axis, 86.2° and 75.1°, respectively, as well as the angles of the subtalar axis, 40.1° and 29.9°, were consistent with the literature. Finally, dynamic characteristics were investigated by gait measurements on the same subject, and the flexible bionic ankle prosthesis demonstrated natural gait mechanics during walking in terms of ankle angles and moments.展开更多
BACKGROUND Maisonneuve fracture is a special type of ankle fracture that consists of proximal fibular fracture,a lesion of the inferior tibiofibular syndesmotic complex(interosseous ligament,anterior inferior tibiofib...BACKGROUND Maisonneuve fracture is a special type of ankle fracture that consists of proximal fibular fracture,a lesion of the inferior tibiofibular syndesmotic complex(interosseous ligament,anterior inferior tibiofibular ligament and posterior inferior tibiofibular ligament),and injury of the medial structure of the ankle(deltoid ligament tear or medial malleolar fracture).The accepted mechanism of Maisonneuve fracture is pronation external rotation according to the Lauge-Hansen classification.In this paper,we report a rare pattern of Maisonneuve fracture,which has the characteristics of both pronation external rotation ankle fracture and supination adduction ankle fracture.CASE SUMMARY A 31-year-old female patient accidentally sprained her right ankle while walking 5 d before hospitalization in our hospital.The patient was initially missed in other hospitals and later rediagnosed in our outpatient department.Full-length radiographs of the lower leg revealed proximal fibula fracture,inferior tibiofibular joint separation,and medial malleolar fracture involving the posterior malleolus,which was also revealed on computed tomography scans.Magnetic resonance imaging revealed rupture of the anterior inferior tibiofibular ligament and anterior talofibular ligament.We diagnosed a rare pattern of Maisonneuve fracture with proximal fibular fracture,inferior tibiofibular joint separation,medial malleolar fracture and ruptures of the anterior inferior tibiofibular ligament and anterior talofibular ligament.The patient underwent open reduction and internal fixation in our hospital.A 6-mo postoperative follow-up confirmed a good clinical outcome.CONCLUSION To our knowledge,this rare pattern of Maisonneuve fracture has not been previously described.The possible mechanism of injury is supination adduction combined with pronation external rotation.Careful analysis of the injury mechanism of Maisonneuve fracture is of great clinical significance and can better guide clinical treatment.展开更多
基金Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.52075145)S&T Program of Hebei Province of China(Grant Nos.20281805Z,E2020103001)Central Government Guides Basic Research Projects of Local Science and Technology Development Funds of China(Grant No.206Z1801G).
文摘The kinematic equivalent model of an existing ankle-rehabilitation robot is inconsistent with the anatomical structure of the human ankle,which influences the rehabilitation effect.Therefore,this study equates the human ankle to the UR model and proposes a novel three degrees of freedom(3-DOF)generalized spherical parallel mechanism for ankle rehabilitation.The parallel mechanism has two spherical centers corresponding to the rotation centers of tibiotalar and subtalar joints.Using screw theory,the mobility of the parallel mechanism,which meets the requirements of the human ankle,is analyzed.The inverse kinematics are presented,and singularities are identified based on the Jacobian matrix.The workspaces of the parallel mechanism are obtained through the search method and compared with the motion range of the human ankle,which shows that the parallel mechanism can meet the motion demand of ankle rehabilitation.Additionally,based on the motion-force transmissibility,the performance atlases are plotted in the parameter optimal design space,and the optimum parameter is obtained according to the demands of practical applications.The results show that the parallel mechanism can meet the motion requirements of ankle rehabilitation and has excellent kinematic performance in its rehabilitation range,which provides a theoretical basis for the prototype design and experimental verification.
基金Supported by Key Scientific Research Platforms and Projects of Guangdong Regular Institutions of Higher Education of China(Grant No.2022KCXTD033)Guangdong Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.2023A1515012103)+1 种基金Guangdong Provincial Scientific Research Capacity Improvement Project of Key Developing Disciplines of China(Grant No.2021ZDJS084)National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.52105009).
文摘The current parallel ankle rehabilitation robot(ARR)suffers from the problem of difficult real-time alignment of the human-robot joint center of rotation,which may lead to secondary injuries to the patient.This study investigates type synthesis of a parallel self-alignment ankle rehabilitation robot(PSAARR)based on the kinematic characteristics of ankle joint rotation center drift from the perspective of introducing"suitable passive degrees of freedom(DOF)"with a suitable number and form.First,the self-alignment principle of parallel ARR was proposed by deriving conditions for transforming a human-robot closed chain(HRCC)formed by an ARR and human body into a kinematic suitable constrained system and introducing conditions of"decoupled"and"less limb".Second,the relationship between the self-alignment principle and actuation wrenches(twists)of PSAARR was analyzed with the velocity Jacobian matrix as a"bridge".Subsequently,the type synthesis conditions of PSAARR were proposed.Third,a PSAARR synthesis method was proposed based on the screw theory and type of PSAARR synthesis conducted.Finally,an HRCC kinematic model was established to verify the self-alignment capability of the PSAARR.In this study,93 types of PSAARR limb structures were synthesized and the self-alignment capability of a human-robot joint axis was verified through kinematic analysis,which provides a theoretical basis for the design of such an ARR.
基金Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.52075145)S&T Program of Hebei Province of China(Grant No.20281805Z)+1 种基金Hebei Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.E2022202130)Central Government Guides Basic Research Projects of Local Science and Technology Development Funds of China(Grant No.206Z1801G).
文摘Aiming at the problem that the existing ankle rehabilitation robot is difficult to fully fit the complex motion of human ankle joint and has poor human-machine motion compatibility,an equivalent series mechanism model that is highly matched with the actual bone structure of the human ankle joint is proposed and mapped into a parallel rehabilita-tion mechanism.The parallel rehabilitation mechanism has two virtual motion centers(VMCs),which can simulate the complex motion of the ankle joint,adapt to the individual differences of various patients,and can meet the reha-bilitation needs of both left and right feet of patients.Firstly,based on the motion properties and physiological structure of the human ankle joint,the mapping relationship between the rehabilitation mechanism and ankle joint is determined,and the series equivalent model of the ankle joint is established.According to the kinematic and con-straint properties of the ankle equivalent model,the configuration design of the parallel ankle rehabilitation robot is carried out.Secondly,according to the intersecting motion planes theory,the full-cycle mobility of the mechanism is proved,and the continuous axis of the mechanism is judged based on the constraint power and its derivative.Then,the kinematics of the parallel ankle rehabilitation robot is analyzed.Finally,based on the OpenSim biomechanical soft-ware,a human-machine coupling rehabilitation simulation model is established to evaluate the rehabilitation effect,which lays the foundation for the formulation of a rehabilitation strategy for the later prototype.
基金the Structure and Motion Lab,University of LondonCentre for Robotics Research at King's College London+1 种基金BBSRC for their support from grant number BB/H003142/1supported by the Royal Thailand Government
文摘The objective of this study is to investigate the biomechanical functions of the human ankle-toot complex during the stancephase of walking. The three-dimensional (3D) gait measurement was conducted by using a 3D infrared multi-camera system anda force plate array to record the Ground Reaction Forces (GRF) and segmental motions simultaneously. The ankle-foot complexwas modelled as a four-segment system, connected by three joints: talocrural joint, sub-talar joint and metatarsophalangeal joint.The subject-specific joint orientations and locations were determined using a functional joint method based on the particleswarm optimisation algorithm. The GRF moment arms and joint moments acting around the talocrural and sub-talar joints werecalculated over the entire stance phase. The estimated talocrural and sub-talar joint locations show noticeable obliquity. Thekinematic and kinetic results strongly suggest that the human ankle-foot complex works as a mechanical mechanism with twodifferent configurations in stance phase of walking. These lead to a significant decrease in the GRF moment arms therebyincreasing the effective mechanical advantages of the ankle plantarflexor muscles. This reconfigurable mechanism enhancesmuscle effectiveness during locomotion by modulating the gear ratio of the ankle plantarflexor muscles in stance. This studyalso reveals many factors may contribute to the locomotor function of the human ankle-foot complex, which include not only itsre-configurable structure, but also its obliquely arranged joints, the characteristic heel-to-toe Centre of Pressure (COP) motionand also the medially acting GRF pattern. Although the human ankle-foot structure is immensely complex, it seems that itsconfiguration and each constitutive component are well tuned to maximise locomotor efficiency and also to minimise risk ofinjury. This result would advance our understanding of the locomotor function of the ankle-foot complex, and also the intrinsicdesign of the ankle-foot musculoskeletal structure. Moreover, this may also provide implications for the design of bionicprosthetic devices and the development of humanoid robots.
文摘Background:End-stage ankle arthritis impairs joint function and patients' mobility.Total ankle replacement is a surgical procedure to treat severe ankle arthritis.Salto Talaris Anatomic Ankle^(TM)(STAA) was designed to mimic the normal ankle anatomy and flexion/extension of the ankle movement.The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of an STAA ankle replacement on ankle joint function and mechanics during gait.Methods:Five patients with end-stage unilateral ankle arthritis were recruited.Patients performed level walking in a laboratory setting on 2occasions,prior to and 3 months after the STAA ankle surgeries.American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society(AOFAS) hindfoot score was obtained.A 12-camera motion capture system was used to perform walking analysis.Gait temporo-spatial parameters and ankle joint mechanics were evaluated.Paired Student's t tests and non-parametric Wilcoxon matched tests were performed to examine the differences in biomechanical variables between the pre-and post-surgery walking conditions.Results:Compared to the pre-surgical condition,at 3 months of post-STAA surgery,patients experienced greater improvement in AOFAS hindfoot score(p = 0.0001);the STAA ankle demonstrated a 31% increase in ankle joint excursion(p = 0.045),a 22% increase in ankle plantarflexor moment(p = 0.075),a 60% increase in ankle power absorption(p = 0.023),and a 68% increase in ankle power production(p = 0.039).Patients also demonstrated a 26% increase in walking speed(p = 0.005),a 20% increase in stride length(p = 0.013),a 15% decrease in double support time(p = 0.043),and a 5% decrease in total stance time(p = 0.055).Conclusion:Three months after surgeries,the STAA patients experienced improvements in ankle function and gait parameters.The STAA ankle demonstrated improved ankle mechanics during daily activities such as walking.
文摘Knee osteoarthritis(OA) is a progressive joint disease hallmarked by cartilage and bone breakdown and associated with changes to all of the tissues in the joint,ultimately causing pain,stiffness,deformity and disability in many people.Radiographs are commonly used for the clinical assessment of knee OA incidence and progression,and to assess for risk factors.One risk factor for the incidence and progression of knee OA is malalignment of the lower extremities(LE).The hipknee-ankle(HKA) angle,assessed from a full-length LE radiograph,is ideally used to assess LE alignment.Careful attention to LE positioning is necessary to obtain the most accurate measurement of the HKA angle.Since full-length LE radiographs are not always available,the femoral shaft-tibial shaft(FS-TS) angle may be calculated from a knee radiograph instead.However,the FS-TS angle is more variable than the HKA angle and it should be used with caution.Knee radiographs are used to assess the severity of knee OA and its progression.There are three types of ordinal grading scales for knee OA:global,composite and individual feature scales.Each grade on a global scale describes one or more features of knee OA.The entire description must be met for a specific grade to be assigned.The KellgrenLawrence scale is the most commonly-used global scale.Composite scales grade several features of knee OA individually and sum the grades to create a total score.One example is the compartmental grading scale for knee OA.Composite scales can respond to change in a variety of presentations of knee OA.Individual feature scales assess one or more OA features individually and do not calculate a total score.They are most often used to monitor change in one OA feature,commonly joint space narrowing.The most commonly-used individual feature scale is the OA Research Society International atlas.Each type of scale has its advantages;however,composite scales may offer greater content validity.Responsiveness to change is unknown for most scales and deserves further evaluation.
文摘In this study, the design of an automatic ROM-Exercise machine that is constructed witha planar multililnk mechamsm consisting of only revolute pairs is investigated. Namely, equations thatdetermine the minimum moving spaces and relative positions of link required to construct the legmechanism are formulated with consideration of transform functions. For the leg mechanism that isconstructed with a planar eleven-link mechanism, arrangements of each link and optimum linkprofiles avoided mutual interferences among moving links are determined wb consideration of therelative locations of each link in the same plane during a cycle of motion of the mechanism. Based onthe above analytical results, an automatic ROM-Exercise machine that performs within a minimum moving spaces is proposed as a prachcal example. ms study is carried out as part of the students'computcr education to the graduation thesis, in order to improve their creativity and machine designtechnology skills in coniunction with educational advantages. Significam educational results areobtained by using the design techniques mentioned above.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(No.2018YFC2001300)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.52005209,91948302,No.91848204,No.52021003)the Natural Science Foundation of Jilin Province(No.20210101053JC,No.20220508130RC).
文摘A variety of prosthetic ankles have been successfully developed to reproduce the locomotor ability for lower limb amputees in daily lives. However, they have not been shown to sufficiently improve the natural gait mechanics commonly observed in comparison to the able-bodied, perhaps due to over-simplified designs of functional musculoskeletal structures in prostheses. In this study, a flexible bionic ankle prosthesis with joints covered by soft material inclusions is developed on the basis of the human musculoskeletal system. First, the healthy side ankle–foot bones of a below-knee amputee were reconstructed by CT imaging. Three types of polyurethane rubber material configurations were then designed to mimic the soft tissues around the human ankle, providing stability and flexibility. Finite element simulations were conducted to determine the proper design of the rubber materials, evaluate the ankle stiffness under different external conditions, and calculate the rotation axes of the ankle during walking. The results showed that the bionic ankle had variable stiffness properties and could adapt to various road surfaces. It also had rotation axes similar to that of the human ankle, thus restoring the function of the talocrural and subtalar joints. The inclination and deviation angles of the talocrural axis, 86.2° and 75.1°, respectively, as well as the angles of the subtalar axis, 40.1° and 29.9°, were consistent with the literature. Finally, dynamic characteristics were investigated by gait measurements on the same subject, and the flexible bionic ankle prosthesis demonstrated natural gait mechanics during walking in terms of ankle angles and moments.
文摘BACKGROUND Maisonneuve fracture is a special type of ankle fracture that consists of proximal fibular fracture,a lesion of the inferior tibiofibular syndesmotic complex(interosseous ligament,anterior inferior tibiofibular ligament and posterior inferior tibiofibular ligament),and injury of the medial structure of the ankle(deltoid ligament tear or medial malleolar fracture).The accepted mechanism of Maisonneuve fracture is pronation external rotation according to the Lauge-Hansen classification.In this paper,we report a rare pattern of Maisonneuve fracture,which has the characteristics of both pronation external rotation ankle fracture and supination adduction ankle fracture.CASE SUMMARY A 31-year-old female patient accidentally sprained her right ankle while walking 5 d before hospitalization in our hospital.The patient was initially missed in other hospitals and later rediagnosed in our outpatient department.Full-length radiographs of the lower leg revealed proximal fibula fracture,inferior tibiofibular joint separation,and medial malleolar fracture involving the posterior malleolus,which was also revealed on computed tomography scans.Magnetic resonance imaging revealed rupture of the anterior inferior tibiofibular ligament and anterior talofibular ligament.We diagnosed a rare pattern of Maisonneuve fracture with proximal fibular fracture,inferior tibiofibular joint separation,medial malleolar fracture and ruptures of the anterior inferior tibiofibular ligament and anterior talofibular ligament.The patient underwent open reduction and internal fixation in our hospital.A 6-mo postoperative follow-up confirmed a good clinical outcome.CONCLUSION To our knowledge,this rare pattern of Maisonneuve fracture has not been previously described.The possible mechanism of injury is supination adduction combined with pronation external rotation.Careful analysis of the injury mechanism of Maisonneuve fracture is of great clinical significance and can better guide clinical treatment.