The Jaipur foot (now of world fame) was originally developed in the city of Jaipur Rajasthan (India) in the early 1970's The idea behind its development was to provide a practical yet inexpensive limb, which would suit the lifestyle led by the people of the developing countries.

The earlier Jaipur limbs had a rubber foot, which was fixed to a lightweight aluminum shank crafted by the tinsmiths. Ever since its inception the Jaipur limb technology has been upgraded on a day-to-day basis by incorporating new technological advancements into it.

Now all the limbs are made of high density polyethylene, an excellent bio-inert material. With the inclusion of thermoplastics as a material for making limbs, total contact socket was also incorporated in the prosthesis providing the ultimate stump socket interface. The open ended sockets are now a thing of past.

The endo-skeletal prosthesis are also now being made, of nylon knee joint and nylon rods.

The Jaipur foot also till date has been made as a handicraft, but recently efforts are on to have it machine made. An endeavor is being made by the research wing of BMVSS to use polyurethane (instead of vulcanized rubber) as a material which is durable and lighter and which can be made available in rigid forms resembling wood, solid elastomers and as foam of various densities. ISRO has transferred BMVSS with a technology to make Jaipur foot out of polyurethane. A variable density polyurethane foot can be cast as one piece using the RIM technique and above all it can be manufactured with automatic machines with excellent quality control with no variables in quality of products.

FURTHER UP-GRADATION OF TECHNOLOGY

BMVSS has always tried to provide the best artificial limbs to the amputee who come from far and wide to get their artificial limbs. Its Research and Development Team has been upgrading the design of limbs by incorporating new changes developed by it, or available from elsewhere.

Jaipur limb which was earlier made of aluminium with open ended socket, is now being made of HDPE with the total contact socket system. For this BMVSS has purchased the most advanced vacuum forming machines from Germany. Because of total contact sockets, the Jaipur limb has a very comfortable stump socket interface.

To get the best alignment, BMVSS has married two different alignment systems i.e. wall frame from Endolite Prosthetics, an Anglo-American Company, and Laser alignment system of Otto Bock Prosthetics, a German Company.

Lately BMVSS signed a formal agreement with Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) – premier scientific body of India – to make a foot from polyurethane's – materials used by them in their rockets and satellites. The research and development wing of BMVSS after making few modifications in the design of dies and materials have produced several foot pieces of this type. These are undergoing field trails and laboratory tests. The initial reactions of users are quite satisfactory. This has made the new foot lighter and has improved its cosmesis. If successful it is going to be second breakthrough in limb making technology in the world.

Efforts are also underway for improvements in the designs of joints, belts, stump socks etc.