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A validated computational framework to evaluate the stiffness of 3D printed ankle foot orthoses |
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| Authors: | Alessio Ielapi Nicolas Lammens Wim Van Paepegem Malcolm Forward Jan Patrick Deckers Miguel Vermandel |
| Institution: | 1. Department of Electronics and Information Systems, Institute Biomedical Technology (IBiTech) – bioMMeda, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium;2. SIM vzw, Zwijnaarde, Belgium;3. Belgian company, Siemens Industry Software N.V, Leuven, Belgium;4. Department of Materials Science &5. Engineering, Ghent University, Zwijnaarde, Belgium;6. Department of Materials Science &7. Gait &8. Movement Analysis Laboratory – Cerebral Palsy Reference Centrum, University Hospital Ghent, Gent, Belgium;9. Belgian company, V!GO NV, Wetteren, Belgium |
| Abstract: | The purpose of this study was to create and validate a standardized framework for the evaluation of the ankle stiffness of two designs of 3D printed ankle foot orthoses (AFOs). The creation of four finite element (FE) models allowed patient-specific quantification of the stiffness and stress distribution over their specific range of motion during the second rocker of the gait. Validation was performed by comparing the model outputs with the results obtained from a dedicated experimental setup, which showed an overall good agreement with a maximum relative error of 10.38% in plantarflexion and 10.66% in dorsiflexion. The combination of advanced computer modelling algorithms and 3D printing techniques clearly shows potential to further improve the manufacturing process of AFOs. |
| Keywords: | Finite element models experimental setup ankle foot orthosis (AFO) stiffness gait |