JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #72 - April/May 2012 - 16

medical
the socket – the part of the prosthesis in contact with the stump skin. A carbon fibre foot (the Flex-Foot) was invented by the prosthesis user and research prosthetist/inventor Van Phillips. Two critical breakthroughs made this product unique and revolutionized the everyday aspirations of amputees. The first one, energy storage and release, is inherent in the patented carbon fibre design of the Flex-Foot. The second one, vertical shock absorption, results in a more natural gait and protects the sound limb and the remaining joints of the amputated limb from excessive shocks (Fig1). In the meantime, there has been a significant market development in two major fields. The first one is related to composite components and their growing use in the manufacture of prostheses, as they appeared in the patient care market. When prosthetists and orthotists received the new products, there was a great demand from users, so that the market grew rapidly. The components market mainly consists of prepreg products, manufactured by companies all over the world. Most of the leading players in the field have created their own carbon feet range (Otto-Bock, Proteor, Fillauer, Blatchford, Ossur, Endolite, Freedom, CPI, etc.). The second field is the raw material market, that followed a similar development pattern. RTM infusion moulding is probably the most established technology among end-processing users. P&O laboratories and central manufacturers are also using composite fibres and resins as basic products in their process. Some of them are now adopting prepregs. Meanwhile, the “orthotic world” was not developing in the same direction. Histo-

Fig. 2: Oscar Pistorius, «the fastest thing without legs», in the daily life

Fig. 1: Energy Storage & release Feet (left), Flexfoot Reflex (right)

A variety of different feet and functions are currently available to suit individual needs. These feet use prepreg manufacturing processes. All models offer significant advantages over conventional prosthetic feet. During the past twenty years, everyone has seen the progress made through sport performance and Paralympics games. But behind the scene, thousands of patients could benefit from the advantages of carbon fibres in their daily life (Fig2) and scientific research on materials has resulted in more durability, comfort and performance.

rically, orthoses design was based on leather and metal, then aluminium. This applied to all levels of injuries or discrepancies and, of course, different types of orthoses could be designed, such as “long leg braces” or “short leg braces”. But in every case, their production always followed the same pattern.

Orthotic management and development
Orthopaedic devices are entirely designed in accor-

dance with the pathology. The deficiencies are assessed in detail when drawing up the specifications of the future orthosis. The final design is based on patient measurements and an impression is always taken. Originally, it is a plaster mould made on the extremity of the body to be fitted, or the trunk. The main goal is to take in consideration all the essential morphological elements. This first mould is called the “negative” . A full-scale replica of the

Fig. 3: CAD software to design the orthopeadic equipment

16 jec composites magazine / No72 April - May 2012

Credit Andy Hooper - totaprosports.com

JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #72 - April/May 2012

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #72 - April/May 2012