Foot prosthesis equipped with highly wear-resistant plain bearings

iglidur® Z bearings enable this noiseless and wear-resistant prosthesis at a low price.

This foot prosthesis from Roadrunnerfoot Engineering works just as reliably as a real foot. To ensure that users can enjoy it for a long time, great importance is attached to wear-free and low-maintenance materials during development. In addition to heavy-duty springs, carbon and aluminium adapters, two iglidur® bearings are among the key components of this high-tech product. In contrast to metal bearings, they are lubricant and maintenance-free and do not develop any movement noise.

Profile

What was needed: iglidur ® plain bearing
Requirements: High quality at a favourable price was required here. The bearings also had to function noiselessly and be completely maintenance-free.
Industry: Medical technology, prostheses
Success for the customer: The iglidur® Z bearings stand for maximum service life under the most extreme conditions, are wear-resistant and permanently functional even under high loads. They are maintenance-free and noiseless, so that the user can forget that he is wearing a prosthesis in everyday life.

Problem

This multiaxial prosthetic foot called "Roadegree" consists of a carbon fibre laminate, high-performance springs, an aluminium Ergal 7075 T6 adapter, a central stainless steel pivot point and two bearings. As the cheapest carbon fibre foot on the prosthesis market, it is designed for the low-price segment and is suitable for 80% of all amputees worldwide.
Ensuring high quality at a favourable price was the biggest challenge in the design of the prosthesis. The manufacturer also had to prevent the prosthesis from making noise, which generally occurs when metal components are used and wear out. The aim is to create a completely maintenance-free system so that the user can forget that they are wearing a prosthesis in everyday life.

Solution

The foot is called "Roadegree" and would be the cheapest carbon fibre foot on the market, which is suitable for 80 % of all amputees worldwide.
The manufacturer found the solution to all problems in iglidur ® bearings, whereby a sleeve bearing with a flange made of the material iglidur® Z is used in the prosthesis. The flange bearings stand for maximum service life under the most extreme conditions, are wear-resistant and permanently functional even under high loads. By avoiding the high wear of conventional bearings, the new solution is completely maintenance-free. In addition, the user can enjoy noise-free use of their prosthesis. In addition, the "Roadegree" foot has a very low sales price, with high-quality and high-performance components such as the carbon fibre laminate, the ERGAL 7076 metal parts and the newly used iglidur® bearings.

Overview of iglidur plastic plain bearings