IIT Madras walks to the future with polycentric knee, India’s first aluminium alloy-stainless steel prosthetic

Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, India’s premier technology and Research University have introduced the nation’s first-ever native polycentric prosthetic knee intending to simplify the lives of innumerable amputated individuals. Named, ‘Kadam’ (which means legs) both metaphorically and literally, will aim at increasing users’ community participation, access to education, livelihood opportunities and overall wellbeing.

This particular prosthetic can be used by both short and long residual limbs amputees after transfemoral (above knee) amputation. Many of its essential characteristics are frictional swing control adjustment for varied walking speeds and providing firmness while strolling on any geographical topography. It guarantees a 160° maximum knee flexion or more which enables the user to easily tread on surfaces and steep slopes.

It is made up of aluminium alloy and stainless steel. Aluminium being one of the most sustainable non-ferrous metals found on the Earth is going to add to the products’ eternal value.

IIT Madras commented by saying, “Indigenously developed Kadam is affordable and at the same time, of high quality and performance, complying with ISO 10328standards including 30 lakh cycle of fatigue testing. It provides stability and reduces the risk of stumbling and its patented geometry is specifically optimised for use on uneven terrains.”

The idea came into prominence at TTK Centre for Rehabilitation Research and Device Development (R2D2) at IIT Madras where the team was near the Society for Biomedical Technology (SBMT). The institute added that Mobility India, an NGO in Bengaluru will take the initiative to mass manufacture and launch Kadam to the market while conducting the process of fitment and training. Users will avail Kadam from the NGO which will assure the installation on them is perfectly done. These aluminium alloy-stainless steel prosthetic limbs are the call from the future where there is no differentiation and each man can dream of his limits and leaps. 

Thiru Johny Tom Varghese IAS, the State Commissioner for Persons with Disability, Government of Tamil Nadu, India while addressing the launch of the event virtually exclaimed, “What bridges the world of a Differently Abled Person with that of others is technology. It is phenomenal to see how technology can usher in inclusion in all walks of life. Kadam is one such innovation, along with other similar path-breaking products that came out of R2D2 IIT Madras, which will make technology accessible and affordable.”

It is a wonder to see technology bringing hope to all people in society; moreover, the use of such cheap metals for something which is not a luxury but a necessity is brilliant on the part of the University Team. While stainless steel is an alloy of Chromium and carbon with other alloying agents, aluminium alloys can be obtained very easily by only melting the material. Both the metals are easily obtainable and affordable; this is where innovation meets budget.