Jaipur foot, labeled as a culture specific innovation, evolved as a modification of the SACH foot to allow the amputees to squat, sit, cross legged, walk barefoot, negotiate uneven terrains, and work in fields while keeping the cost low to maintain affordability. Extensive use for the last 45 years and consistent growth in demand speaks volume about its acceptance. However, heavy weight, lack of standardization of materials, and a labor intensive fabrication process makes its quality control very difficult.Reducing the weight of the artificial Jaipur foot will increase the users comfort whileperforming daily activities, potentially increasing the usage of the foot while decreasing fatigue and injury, whereby improving overall quality of life. The goal of this study was to reduce the weight of the foot without compromising the mechanical integrity of the foot. Ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) and Nylon 6 were investigated as potential new materials. While EVA decreased the weight of the foot, it came at an expense of structural integrity. Nylon 6however, decreased the weight by 25% without any structural issues.Hence, we recommend to update the manufacturing of the Jaipur foot to utilize Nylon 6. A unique team of Mechanical Engineers, Material Scientist, physical medicine and rehabilitation expert came together to create a new, improved and modified Jaipur Foot.
Artificial Foot; Materials: Prosthesis
