Our inventors have developed a novel solution to the common oversight associated with the prosthetics available on the market today. The CAPA is a prosthetic ankle foot that stores and releases energy at three different locations, allowing for a more natural gait as the prosthetic rolls from ankle to toe. Additionally, the CAPA foot allows for full ankle range of motion in the sagittal plane. Compared to the conventional non-articulating Solid Ankle Cushioned Heel (SACH) foot, the CAPA foot is shown to better mimic the ground reaction forces and ankle angles of a healthy gait. Manufacturing of the CAPA foot utilizes 3D printing technology, making the prosthetic easy to manufacture and affordable to produce. In addition to providing amputees with a more natural gait, the CAPA foot may also have an application in the design of humanoid robots.
Prosthetic Simulator Comparison: SACH Foot (Left) vs. CAPA Foot (Right)