Fatigue Analysis of Prosthetic Osseointegration with a Novel Protection System

Abstract

Recent advancements in osseointegration technology offer a promising alternative to traditional prosthetic limbs, leading to improved comfort and functionality for amputees. However, the primary concern lies in the risk of catastrophic failure and falling due to fractures within the osseointegration system. To address this challenge, a protective system has been designed. The new design includes an internally rod part with a notch at the bottom to ensure failure at that point, made of ductile cast iron. A cover made of Ti6Al4V alloy is placed to ensure fracture isolation within the protection nail during sudden loading, preventing unexpected falls. After conducting tensile tests for the mentioned alloys and materials, and then relying on the ground reaction force in the numerical analysis using SolidWorks software, Finite Element Analysis (FEA) simulations confirmed the effectiveness of this design, with the expected fracture point occurring in the protection nail after exceeding 54973 walking cycles, surpassing the expected maintenance lifespan of the prosthetic limb. This design represents a significant step forward in enhancing the safety and reliability of integrated prosthetic limbs, ultimately leading to improved mobility and peace of mind for amputees.Recent advancements in osseointegration technology offer a promising alternative to traditional prosthetic limbs, leading to improved comfort and functionality for amputees. However, the primary concern lies in the risk of catastrophic failure and falling due to fractures within the osseointegration system. To address this challenge, a protective system has been designed. The new design includes an internally rod part with a notch at the bottom to ensure failure at that point, made of ductile cast iron. A cover made of Ti6Al4V alloy is placed to ensure fracture isolation within the protection nail during sudden loading, preventing unexpected falls. After conducting tensile tests for the mentioned alloys and materials, and then relying on the ground reaction force in the numerical analysis using SolidWorks software, Finite Element Analysis (FEA) simulations confirmed the effectiveness of this design, with the expected fracture point occurring in the protection nail after exceeding 54973 walking cycles, surpassing the expected maintenance lifespan of the prosthetic limb. This design represents a significant step forward in enhancing the safety and reliability of integrated prosthetic limbs, ultimately leading to improved mobility and peace of mind for amputees.