AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF THE KINEMATICS OF A MODIFIED ABOVE-KNEE PROSTHESIS
The users of the modern prostheses, such as the so-called “intelligent” prostheses or computercontrolled prostheses, still can not climb stairs as nonamputees do. Rising from a chair is also very difficult activity for a transfemoral amputee. The underlying reason for this unresolved problem of stair climbing with an AK prosthesis lies in the need to introduce an external source of energy, which would provide the user with the energy required to lift the body when climbing stairs. To solve this problem, a small linear actuator was installed in an existing Endolite above-knee prosthesis. Connected to an external hydraulic power system, the new prosthesis allows its user to climb stairs. This paper deals with the kinematics of such a modified prosthesis.