THE GAIT SIMULATOR FOR LOWER LIMB EXOPROSTHESES – OVERVIEW AND FIRST MEASUREMENTS FOR COMPARISON OF MICROPROCESSOR CONTROLLED KNEE JOINTS

Abstract

A test device for lower limb exoprostheses has been developed at the Department of Medical Engineering of the TU Berlin which is able to apply realistic loads to prostheses. Hence, the gait simulator meets the increasing demands on functional and fatigue testing of microprocessor controlled knee joints (MPK). An exemplary comparison of two MPK was performed to prove that known differences in the functional quality of the MPK can also be demonstrated in simulator tests. Significant differences between the MPK could be found. The MPK could not be tested in their full range of function though. To enable comprehensive functional and fatigue testing, the gait simulator has to be modified to achieve higher walking velocities and step lengths.