Toe Joint Replacement Models

In various embodiments, provided are implantable devices for replacing all or a portion of a metatarsophalangeal joint, comprising (i) a metatarsal component comprising a Substan tially convex bearing Surface; or (ii) a phalanx component comprising a Substantially concave bearing Surface; or (iii) both. In various embodiments, also provided are methods of treating hallux Valgus by replacing all or a portion of a meta tarsophalangeal joint with one or more of the provided implantable devices

Adding a toe joint to a prosthesis: walking biomechanics, energetics, and preference of individuals with unilateral below-knee limb loss

Toe joints play an important functional role in able-bodied walking; however, for prosthesis users, the effect of adding a toe joint to a passive prosthetic foot remains largely unknown. The current study explores the kinematics, kinetics, rate of oxygen consumption and user preference of nine individuals with below-knee limb loss. Participants walked on a passive prosthetic foot in two configurations: with a Flexible, articulating toe joint and with a Locked-out toe joint. During level treadmill gait, participants exhibited a decrease in Push-Off work when using the Flexible toe joint prosthesis versus the Locked toe joint prosthesis: 16% less from the prosthesis (p = 0.004) and 10% less at the center of mass level (p = 0.039). However, between configurations, participants exhibited little change in other gait kinematics or kinetics, and no apparent or consistent difference in the rate of oxygen consumption (p = 0.097). None of the traditional biomechanical or metabolic outcomes seemed to explain user preference. However, an unexpected and intriguing observation was that all participants who wore the prosthesis on their dominant limb preferred the Flexible toe joint, and every other participant preferred the Locked configuration. Although perhaps coincidental, such findings may suggest a potential link between user preference and limb dominance, offering an interesting avenue for future research

A System Utilizing Metal Hydride Actuators to Achieve Passive Motion of Toe Joints for Prevention of Pressure Ulcers: A Pilot Study

This paper describes the influence of human toe movement on blood flow and the design of a toe joint passive motion system for preventing pressure ulcers. First, we measured lower extremity blood flow in the foot during active and passive motion of the toe to facilitate the design of new rehabilitation equipment. Also, the flexion and extension angles and the force of the toe joints were measured to determine appropriate specifications for the system. Increases in blood flow were observed at the external malleolus during movement. Flexion and extension angles and the force of the toe joints were found to differ significantly among participants. It is shown that a toe joint passive motion system can be effective in preventing pressure ulcers. On the basis of these results, a device using alloys of metal hydride (MH) as an actuator that is suitable for the system to initiate toe motion, was developed

Diagnostic Prediction Using Discomfort Drawings with IBTM

In this paper, we explore the possibility to apply machine learning to make diagnostic predictions using discomfort drawings. A discomfort drawing is an intuitive way for patients to express discomfort and pain related symptoms. These drawings have proven to be an effective method to collect patient data and make diagnostic decisions in real-life practice. A dataset from real-world patient cases is collected for which medical experts provide diagnostic labels. Next, we use a factorized multimodal topic model, Inter-Battery Topic Model (IBTM), to train a system that can make diagnostic predictions given an unseen discomfort drawing. The number of output diagnostic labels is determined by using mean-shift clustering on the discomfort drawing. Experimental results show reasonable predictions of diagnostic labels given an unseen discomfort drawing. Additionally, we generate synthetic discomfort drawings with IBTM given a diagnostic label, which results in typical cases of symptoms. The positive result indicates a significant potential of machine learning to be used for parts of the pain diagnostic process and to be a decision support system for physicians and other health care personnel.Comment: Presented at 2016 Machine Learning and Healthcare Conference (MLHC 2016), Los Angeles, C

Bio-inspired Musculoskeletal Robotics Foot with Toe Joint and Plantar Intrinsic Muscle in Tiptoe Motion

The 11th International Symposium on Adaptive Motion of Animals and Machines. Kobe University, Japan. 2023-06-06/09. Adaptive Motion of Animals and Machines Organizing Committee.Poster Session P4

Multi-segmented Adaptive Feet for Versatile Legged Locomotion in Natural Terrain

Most legged robots are built with leg structures from serially mounted links and actuators and are controlled through complex controllers and sensor feedback. In comparison, animals developed multi-segment legs, mechanical coupling between joints, and multi-segmented feet. They run agile over all terrains, arguably with simpler locomotion control. Here we focus on developing foot mechanisms that resist slipping and sinking also in natural terrain. We present first results of multi-segment feet mounted to a bird-inspired robot leg with multi-joint mechanical tendon coupling. Our one- and two-segment, mechanically adaptive feet show increased viable horizontal forces on multiple soft and hard substrates before starting to slip. We also observe that segmented feet reduce sinking on soft substrates compared to ball-feet and cylinder-feet. We report how multi-segmented feet provide a large range of viable centre of pressure points well suited for bipedal robots, but also for quadruped robots on slopes and natural terrain. Our results also offer a functional understanding of segmented feet in animals like ratite birds

Investigation about the change of the peak plantar pressure with the severity of diabetic peripheral neuropathy

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is associated with progressive loss of sensation, restriction of lower limb joint range of motion, and gait alternation. These impairments are significant risk for diabetic plantar ulcer. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the relationship between neuropathy and plantar pressure profilel in diabetic patients with different degrees of peripheral neuropathy. Twenty-four patients of type2 diabetes with DPN were enrolled and classified into 3 groups according to DPN severity, and simultaneously estimated sensory and motor nerve conduction velocity (SCV, MCV), toe and ankle joint range of motion, and peak plantar pressure. Plantar area was divided into 4 regions: toe, forefoot, midfoot and rearfoot. To prevent the extreme variation, patients with plantar callus were excluded. SCV, MCV, toe and ankle joint range of motion, and peak plantar pressure of toe and forefoot were correlated with DPN severity, Moreover, the peak pressure ratio of toe to forefoot was significantly increased in proportion to DPN severity and the restriction of toe joint range of motion. These results indicate that except patients with plantar callus. increasing degrees of DPN restricts the toe joint flexibility and the relative peak plantar pressure of toe rises in accordance with DPN severity

Dynamic analysis of constrained object motion for mechanical transfer of live products

This thesis is motivated by practical problems encountered in handling live products in the poultry processing industry, where live birds are manually transferred by human labors. As the task of handling live products is often unpleasant and hazardous, it is an ideal candidate for automation. To reduce the number of configurations and live birds to be tested, this thesis focuses on developing analytical models based on the Lagrange method to predict the effect of mechanical inversion on the shackled bird. Unlike prior research which focused on the effect of different inversion paths on the joint force/torque of a free-falling shackled bird, this thesis research examines the effect of kinematic constraints (designed to support the bird body) on the shackled bird. Unlike free-falling, the imposed kinematic constraints enable the shackled bird to rotate about its center of mass, and thus minimize wing flapping. In this thesis, birds are geometrically approximated as ellipsoids while the lower extremity is modeled as a pair of multi-joint serial manipulators. With the constraint equations formulated into a set of differential algebraic equations, the equations of motion as well as Lagrange multipliers characterizing kinematical constraints are numerically solved for the bird motion, specifically the position, velocity, and orientation and hence the forces and torques of the joints. The dynamic models are verified by comparing simulation results against those obtained using a finite element method. The outcomes of this thesis will provide some intuitive insights essential to design optimization of a live-bird transfer system.M.S.Committee Chair: Kok-Meng Lee; Committee Member: Bruce Webster; Committee Member: Shreyes Melkot