Adjustable Liners and Sockets for Prosthetic Devices

Abstract

INTRODUCTION Ras Labs’ Synthetic Muscle™ will allow amputees to continue their active lives without needing to adjust the fitting of their prosthetic device(s) throughout the day. This technology promises to resolve major issues facing amputees, most notably the pain of prosthetic slippage and tissue breakdown. Synthetic Muscle™, comprising electroactive polymers (EAPs), actively expand or contract at low voltages, while offering impact resistance and pressure sensing, all in one integrated solution. The main objectives of this project is to determine the feasibility of the EAP pads incorporated into prosthetic liners or sockets and to create prototypes of these EAP based shape-morphing pad systems. In collaboration with UPI, testing of these EAP based pads located in strategic areas of the socket was initiated with customers (BK and AK) for evaluation and feedback. Characterization of Synthetic Muscle™ as dual use pressure sensors was initiated. This is a continuation Ras Labs’ dynamic prosthetic pad project, which demonstrated how the volume of the EAP can be changed from applying a low voltage and operating temperatures for use in adjustable prosthetic liners and sockets 1-8. Abstract PDF Link: https://jps.library.utoronto.ca/index.php/cpoj/article/view/32048/24462 How to cite: Rasmussen L, Rodriguez S, Bowers M, Smith D, Martino G, Rizzo L, Scheiber C, d’Almeida J, Dillis C. Adjustable Liners and Sockets for Prosthetic Devices. CANADIAN PROSTHETICS & ORTHOTICS JOURNAL, VOLUME 1, ISSUE 2, 2018; ABSTRACT, POSTER PRESENTATION AT THE AOPA’S 101ST NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, SEPT. 26-29, VANCOUVER, CANADA, 2018. DOI: https://doi.org/10.33137/cpoj.v1i2.32048 Abstracts were Peer-reviewed by the AOPA 2018 National Assembly Scientific Committee.

Keywords

• Synthetic Muscle
• amputees
• prosthetic
• transtibial
• transfemoral
• pressure sensing
• adjustable liners