Our Students’ Artificial Muscle-Assisted Foot Drop System Project
17.02.2020

Artificial Muscle-Assisted Foot Drop System (FDS)

Individuals suffering from the gait disorder known as foot drop syndrome are unable to properly engage the anterior muscle group of the leg and consequently cannot lift their foot upward from the ankle. This condition significantly reduces quality of life. Although some treatment methods exist today to alleviate gait problems, these methods are often costly and not suitable for every patient.

The aim of this project is to develop an external support system suitable for all individuals with foot drop syndrome. Additionally, the designed system is intended to gradually strengthen the patient’s weakened muscle group over time. In this way, the individual will be able to continue their rehabilitation without the need to visit a physical therapy center. As the Pneumecha team, our goal is to provide an engineering solution to this medical problem. Unlike other treatment methods, our system will be cost-effective and will simulate a physiotherapy effect by increasing muscle activation at every step. We have completed our calculations and analyses and are currently working on a prototype model based on these results. Very soon, we will begin testing in physical therapy centers to collect user experience data, and based on the feedback, we plan to finalize production in the shortest possible time.

We advanced to the finals of TÜGİAD’s “Leave Your Mark with Your Idea” competition, reached the semifinals in Anadolu Group’s entrepreneurship contest “Bi-fikir KAP”, and also became semifinalists in Atılım University’s “Business Idea” competition.

Project Team:
Z. Burak Erkoç (Mechanical Engineering)
Zeynep Goral (Mechanical Engineering)
Berkcan Ünlü (Mechanical Engineering)
Barış Sezer (Mechanical Engineering)

Academic Advisors:
Prof. Dr. Hasan U. Akay and Dr. Behzat Bahadır Kentel.