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Foot prosthesis

(1241 products available)

About foot prosthesis

Types of Foot Prosthesis

Foot prosthesis are artificial devices designed to replace a patient's natural foot after amputation. This can be due to various reasons such as diabetes, cancer, or an accident. Prosthetic feet are designed to mimic as closely as possible the natural gait of the foot as well as its function. However, the specific design chosen often depends on the person's activity level, lifestyle, and medical needs. Below are some common types found on Alibaba.com:

Elastic Energy Store and Release

This is a very functional foot prothesiss used for average to highly active users. It incorporates a solid carbon fiber or composite heel, which acts as a deflector when one is stepping on it. When this heel compressed, it stores the elastic energy that is released when one is pushing off for the next step. This design greatly benefits running and walking because it reduces fatigue and increases efficiency over long durations. The most commonly used types in this category are the carbon fiber model.

Seal-In Liners

This liner, made of flexible yet durable silicone, contains a series of sealing rings in the form of circular ridges that snugly fit against the residual limb's skin. The purpose of the rings is to create a strong vacuum between the skin and the liner that expels any remaining air out and closes all potential air-entry gaps. This perfect air-seal has two crucial functions. First, the seal prevents air bubbles from infiltrating the space between the liner rim and the residual skin surface. Second, the vacuum-means atmospheric pressure can only act on the liner's inner surface at the limb-skin interface. This unopposed pressure performs two essential tasks.

Hydraulic and Pneumatic Feet

Walking on uneven ground can be risky and uncomfortable for foot prosthesis users. Luckily, a pneumatic or hydraulic foot prosthesis can step up to this challenge. These devices contain liquid or air-filled chambers that adjust the foot angle as the terrain changes. This capability helps maintain stability, which reduces tipping or losing balance risk. While these prostheses may cost more and require additional maintenance, their stabilizing effect on unpredictable outdoor environments makes them worth every penny.

Danhof's hydraulic feet utilize motor liquid, which cannot be easily compressible, to absorb energy and reduce footfall force on the body by counteracting the ankle's motion, making them ideal for individuals with transferable disabilities.

Single-axis foot

This simple and economical artificial foot only provides basic movement, where the toes and heel lift each other in a limited few angles of joint bending. It does not absorb walking impacts or encourage natural stride; instead, it helps even out leg lengths to support normal but nonactive users. Its lightweight, low-cost, easy-care features, make it suitable for low-technology clients. However, this foot does not withstand tougher activities as well as multi-axis designs do.

Material and Design of Foot Prosthesis

Foot prosthesis designs vary greatly depending on the damage aspect they are intended to overcome. Recent trends in prosthetic limb design converge toward the use of advanced carbomer and elastomer composites. The specific materials used to construct the prosthetic foot will depend on the type and function.

  • Gel-filled silicone elastomer sealing liners

    Gal-filled silicone elastomer sealing liners are composed of polymer silicone rubber cement chemically gel infused into flexible plastics to create sealing suspension liners that provide patient comfort by relieving prosthetic gait associated pressure. It is made from durable residue limb materials that seal the replaced limb but remains soft to cushion the residual limb from harsh rubbing interactions. These materials are usually very resilient, but the prosthetic liners must be regularly monitored for wear to ensure optimal function.

  • Carbon thermoplastic composites

    Carbon thermoplastic composites usually comprise layers of carbon-reinforced plastic thermoplastics and elastomers glued together and flared out from a carbon terminal lamina eggbeaker to composite ankle mechanism foot architecture. Irretrievably kinetic energy storage devices made using this material provide exceptional performance due to their light ice and incredible strength. The main problems with this design are costs, difficulty adjusting for gait or other factors, and exposure to certain environmental conditions which can cause loss of structural integrity.

  • Foot shell

    The outside part of the foot is called a foot shell, and it provides protection for the internal artifice components. It is often cosmetically designed to resemble the opposite foot for aesthetic purposes. There are different foot shell materials depending on the activity of the user and the environmental conditions, including fiberglass, polyurethane, ABS, and polypropylene.

  • Elastomeric materials

    Elastomeric materials comprise synthetic rubbers based on olefinic polymers and their copolymers responsible for providing these foot prosthesis components cushioning, flexibility, adhesive attachment, tensile strength, and abrasion resistance.

  • Dynamic response mechanism

    A dynamic response mechanism usually involves an advanced, composited ankle with a tonally elastic EECOO cyclic depression and relaxation response of foot arch whereby small shock feet is transversely and all energy is expended in gait propulsion. Walks and runs using this mechanism are highly cushioned, effective, bracing dull pain in previously healthy feet.

  • Clearance angle

    The clearance angle measures the dynamic response mechanism's orientation and determines the foot's range of motion. This angle should ideally be large except in the case where the wearer has balance issues so as to aid movement. The average clearance angle is 6 to 80 with normal being over 70 for walking and running.

Commercial Value and Uses of Foot Prosthesis

Prosthetic footss have a wide range of commercial value since they are used by many individuals who need limb replacements due to various medical conditions, industrial injuries, and traumatic accidents like vehicle accidents. Foot prostheses help such people to regain mobility and independence, improving their life quality. They were previously considered a humanitarian effort but have gained commercial importance in medicine due to technological, mechanical, and material advancements.

The foot prosthesis market's commercial and humanitarian values have important implications for diverse stakeholders like healthcare facilities, medical staff, and limb loss patients.

  • Functional restoration

    The main use of foot prostheses is functional restoration and enabling patients to walk and run normalizing their quality of life. Besides, modern prosthetic feet have many features that make them suitable for different activities including walking, running, climbing, and participating in various sports.

  • Cosmetic and Psychological Value

    In addition to functionality, foot prosthesis comes in various shapes and sizes so that they can look like real feet. This also offers cosmetic value by boosting the wearer's psycho-social confidence. They can overcome the mental stigma of disability or limb loss, making them more motivated and optimistic in life and, more importantly, able to perform daily tasks.

  • Aggressive Commercial Importance

    As people continue to understand foot prostheses benefits more, there is a rising demand for these among healthcare workers and patients equally. Besides, advancements in technology and customizations available have further increased demand as they are more effective and patient-friendly.

  • Social Impact

    The increasing availability of foot prosthesis donations for humanitarian purposes has increased people with disabilities' cation and inclusivity challenge. Charity programs offer prosthetic feet to individuals in less fortunate areas who, despite not being technically educated or financially supported, succeed in helping them attain basic mobility, enabling them to work and care for their families.

How to Choose Foot Prosthesis

Choosing the right foot prosthesis can be very challenging. It involves assessing several factors like the patient's physical condition, activity levels, and personal preferences. The main purpose here is to find the artificial foot that will not only provide the needed support but also allow the patient to lead a normal and fulfilling life.

  • Prosthetic foot shell design

    In selecting the foot prosthesis, one cannot overlook the foot shell design. Various designs like the realistic foot design, high heel design, cosmetic foot shell, and others yield different benefits. Natural designs resemble normal feet regarding dimensions, shape, and skin, while high heel designs cater to pleasure women who like foot prosthetics that let them wear stylish footwear. There are also less costly but less perfect cosmetic foot shells that help people who cannot afford more sophisticated footprothesiss for sale. Every design has unique advantages, which should be weighed against cost and lifestyle needs.

  • Activity level and lifestyle

    The activity level and lifestyle of the wearer largely determine the type of prosthetic foot they need. Moderate to highly active individuals like runners or sports persons would benefit from a dynamic response or elastic energy storage and a transfer foot that can cushion impact and store energy for efficient gait. On the contrary, basic low-impact walking, home activity, or office work usually requires a single-axis prosthetic foot that provides stability and a moderate range of motion.

  • Residual limb characteristics

    It is important to evaluate the condition of the residual limb as well. Skin types differ, and muscular vs. atypical body composition can change how prosthetic devices behave. Clinicians use specialized mats to assess body weight and distribute body weight over the sealing liner in the prosthesis socket to achieve more comfort and stability. More complex dynamic liners are useful for shock absorption and force distribution on active residual limbs, while static liners are suited for less active flat residuals.

  • Maintenance and care requirements

    One of the most sophisticated prosthetic foots on the market today requires servicing and occasional replacement parts. Foot prostheses that are less complicated with fewer moving parts easily win over most wearers. Also, one should consider the availability of prosthetic foot components like sealing liners, foot shells, and other parts locally so as not to be hampered during repair.

  • Consult with professionals

    Chose a prosthetic foot in consultation with a prosthetist because they have the expertise in foot prosthessis design and fitting. They will recommend the most appropriate foot prosthesis after a thorough evaluation focusing on medical needs, physical conditions, and preferences.

Q&A

Q1: What is the purpose of a foot prosthesis?

A1: The purpose of a foot prosthesis is to allow the person with lost limb due to accidents, disease, or other causes to regain the ability to walk, run, and perform everyday activities.

Q2: What are the common materials used to make foot prostheses?

A2: The common materials used to make foot prothestics include carbomer elastomeric thermoplastic composites for dynamic components, silicone gel for sealing liners, carbon thermoplastic for dynamic response mechanisms, and fiberglass for foot shells.

Q3: How are foot prostheses held in position?

A3: Foot prostheses are held in position through residual limbs using components like sealing liners, suction sockets, adhesive pads, and vacuum technology against gravity and external forces aiming at optimum stability without uncomfortable tightness.

Q4: How does one choose the right foot prosthesis?

A4: To choose the right foot prosthesis, one must consider the patient's activity level, lifestyle, and individual needs with the help of a professional who can evaluate the patient's physical condition and recommend the prosthetic foot type that will meet the requirement effectively.

Q5: What is the cost of foot prostheses?

A5: Many factors like the complexity of the prosthetic foot, the materials used, activity levels, and individual needs influence the expense of foot prosthessis.