1 / 10

Optimizing Transtibial Prosthetic Socket Design for Enhanced Comfort and Support

This project focuses on analyzing forces within prosthetic sockets to design a more comfortable and effective socket system. By using force sensors and innovative design approaches, the goal is to improve patient comfort and reduce issues like skin irritation and pressure ulcerations. Future work includes testing the design with multiple patients and surfaces to ensure optimal force distribution and comfort levels.

lada
Download Presentation

Optimizing Transtibial Prosthetic Socket Design for Enhanced Comfort and Support

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Analyzing the forces within transtibial prosthetic sockets and design of an improved force minimizing socket Christine Bronikowski, Amanda Chen, Jared Mulford, Amy Ostrowski Advisor: Aaron Fitzsimmons, The Surgical Clinic

  2. Problem Statement • Lack of research in the socket interface between the artificial limb and the residual limb, specifically force profiles • Majority of the research focused on components with higher potential financial gains • Problems with skin irritation, varying degrees of pain, tissue breakdown, pressure ulcerations, and resultant infections at the socket interface develop

  3. Project Goals • Acquire accurate measurements of the forces acting on the residual limb of an amputee during various movements • Determine areas of highest force • Design a socket system in which the forces are optimally distributed throughout the cross-section of the surface between the residual limb and socket • Increase overall patient comfort

  4. Current Socket Designs • Designed on a case-by-case basis for individual patients

  5. Method of Force Analysis • Force Sensing Resistor (FSR) placed directly in socket • Very thin-will not cause variation in force determination • Change in resistance when force is applied, converted to a voltage difference

  6. Current Work • Circuit design: current to voltage converter

  7. Design/Safety Considerations • Sensitivity/saturation of FSR may not be within desired force range • Wire thickness: thin enough to prevent interference with force data • Thick enough to not break during movement/walking • FSR-wire connection: must be durable due to movement of limb • Low temperature solder: must not melt FSR plastic

  8. Future Work • Insertion of ~15 FSRs into limb-socket interface of “model” patient, Cody • Test run: determine if FSR saturates, stays intact, comfort and safety of Cody • Repeat with ~10 patients • Rotate FSRs within socket to cover entire area • Test multiple surfaces (incline, flat, stair) • Analyze results, determine location of maximum force • Design and develop a new socket: provide more flexibility in areas of greatest force

  9. Determination of Success • Design is patient-driven • Survey and level of comfort pre and post new socket

  10. References

More Related