Authors :
Dr. Dhyanika Singh; Dr. Sant Prakash Gautam
Volume/Issue :
Volume 11 - 2026, Issue 2 - February
Google Scholar :
https://tinyurl.com/yc2ayau3
Scribd :
https://tinyurl.com/5hy54298
DOI :
https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/26feb901
Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.
Abstract :
The condition of knee-deficient patients is commonly characterized by quadriceps weakness and knee instability
during gait, leading to compensatory walking patterns and reduced functional mobility. Conventional locked knee ankle
foot orthoses (KAFOs) provide stance-phase stability but restrict knee flexion during swing and increase metabolic cost.
This study aimed to design and develop an Automated Electromechanical Knee Ankle Foot Orthosis (AEMKafo) that
ensures stance-phase stability while permitting free knee motion during swing. A custom-molded polypropylene KAFO
was integrated with a force sensing resistor, Arduino UNO microcontroller, lithium-ion battery, and a solenoid-based
magnetic locking mechanism. Heel contact detection triggered automatic knee locking during stance, while pressure
release initiated unlocking to allow swing-phase flexion. The fabricated prototype demonstrated reliable sensing, timely
actuation, smooth gait-phase transitions, and stable mechanical engagement during bench testing. These findings confirm
the technical feasibility of a sensor-driven stance-control KAFO and support further optimization and clinical validation
for knee-deficient patients.
Keywords :
Knee Ankle Foot Orthosis, Femoral Neuropathy, Quadriceps Weakness, Stance Control Orthosis, Automated Electromechanical Devices, Gait Analysis, Rehabilitation.
References :
- Lohmann Siegel K, Stanhope SJ, Caldwell GE. Kinematic and kinetic adaptations in the lower limb during stance in gait of unilateral femoral neuropathy patients. Gait Posture. 1993;1(3):191-198.
- Xixi Luo, Ananda Delagado. Femoral neuropathy: causes, symptoms, and treatment. Clinical Neurology Reviews. 2018;15(9):42-55.
- Neil G Burke, Michael Walsh, Tis O'Brien, Keith Synnott. Diagnostic gait pattern of a patient with longstanding left femoral nerve palsy: A case report. Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery. 2010;18(3):382-384.
- Chaurasiya BD. Lower limb, pelvis and abdomen. CBS Publishers and Distributors. 2017; 2:456-478.
- Steven E Irby, Kathie A Bernhardt, Kenton R Kaufman. Gait of stance control orthosis users: The dynamic brace system. Journal of Prosthetics and Orthotics. 2005;29(3):269-282.
- Masoud Rafiaei, Mahmood Bahramizadeh, Mokhtar Azarpour, et al. The gait and energy efficiency of stance control knee-ankle-foot-orthosis: A literature review. Prosthetics and Orthotics International. 2015;40(2):202-214.
- Farnoosh Asadi, Mokhtar Azazpour, Monireh Ahmadi Bani, et al. The effect of sensor lock on a KAFO with an electro-mechanical stance control knee joint. Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development. 2017;54(1):89-102.
- Terris Yakimovich, Jonathan Koffman, Edward Lemaire, et al. Design, construction and evaluation of an electromechanical stance control ankle foot orthosis. Journal of Prosthetics and Orthotics. 2005;17(3S):34-46.
- Muhammad IR, Noor Azuan AO. Stance control orthosis with electromechanical actuation mechanism: Usefulness and design. International Journal of Rehabilitation Research. 2015;6(3):49-58.
- Kamran Shamaei, Paul C Napolitano, Aaron M Dollar. Design and functional evaluation of a quasi-passive compliant stance control KAFO. IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering. 2014;22(2):258-268.
- Steven E Irby, Kenton R Kaufman, James W Mathewson, David H Sutherland. Automatic control design for a dynamic knee system. IEEE Transactions on Rehabilitation Engineering. 1999;7(2):183-192.
- Franklin Event off. Force sensing resistor technology. Interlink Electronics Technical Documentation. 2020. https://www.interlinkelectronics.com/fsr-technology
- Steven E Irby, Kenton R Kaufman, James W Mathewson, David H Sutherland. Optimization and application of a wrap spring clutch to a dynamic knee ankle foot orthosis. IEEE Transactions on Rehabilitation Engineering. 1999;7(2):193-204.
- Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. Volume 1. McGraw-Hill Medical. 2020.
The condition of knee-deficient patients is commonly characterized by quadriceps weakness and knee instability
during gait, leading to compensatory walking patterns and reduced functional mobility. Conventional locked knee ankle
foot orthoses (KAFOs) provide stance-phase stability but restrict knee flexion during swing and increase metabolic cost.
This study aimed to design and develop an Automated Electromechanical Knee Ankle Foot Orthosis (AEMKafo) that
ensures stance-phase stability while permitting free knee motion during swing. A custom-molded polypropylene KAFO
was integrated with a force sensing resistor, Arduino UNO microcontroller, lithium-ion battery, and a solenoid-based
magnetic locking mechanism. Heel contact detection triggered automatic knee locking during stance, while pressure
release initiated unlocking to allow swing-phase flexion. The fabricated prototype demonstrated reliable sensing, timely
actuation, smooth gait-phase transitions, and stable mechanical engagement during bench testing. These findings confirm
the technical feasibility of a sensor-driven stance-control KAFO and support further optimization and clinical validation
for knee-deficient patients.
Keywords :
Knee Ankle Foot Orthosis, Femoral Neuropathy, Quadriceps Weakness, Stance Control Orthosis, Automated Electromechanical Devices, Gait Analysis, Rehabilitation.