Design and development of safe gait prosthetic knee joint in India

CONTEXT: The prosthetic technology in recent years has grown by leap and bounds. The most advanced gadgets like microprocessors are available worldwide at exorbitant costs. Developing countries have issues with terrain, access to services, and cost. The new design of the prosthetic knee joint was planned to develop a cost-effective, sturdy, and easy to fit a universal system. METHODS AND MATERIAL: This exploratory design was undertaken to develop a prototype. The design was further developed and tested for its materialistic properties. Pilot study assessing functions using this joint is also underway. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The novelty of this knee joint is that locking and unlocking are made simple such that it can be done by the transfemoral amputee at will, with ease, on the spot, independent of the terrain he/she is traversing. The awareness of such a prosthetic joint is vital for family physicians.