Performance of an auto-adjusting prosthetic socket during walking with intermittent socket release

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Prosthetics and Orthotics

Background:

• Maintaining prosthetic socket fit during varying user activity is crucial for stable control system operation.
• Existing prosthetic sockets face challenges in adapting to changes in limb volume and user position.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the stability and performance of an automatically adjusting prosthetic socket system.
• To assess the control system's ability to maintain socket fit during transitions between sitting and walking.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of adjustable sockets with sensors to monitor liner-socket distance.
• Implementation of a microprocessor-based control system with motor-driven panels to adjust socket size.
• Testing in six transtibial prosthesis users over eight sit/walk cycles, recording limb fluid volume.

Main Results:

• The control system demonstrated stable operation, not saturating during 98% of walking periods.
• Limb fluid volume fluctuations generally corresponded with the socket panel adjustments made by the control system.
• The auto-adjusting socket successfully adapted to changes in user position and activity.

Conclusions:

• The auto-adjusting prosthetic socket's control system exhibits stable operation.
• The system's performance suggests readiness for in-home user trials.
• This technology has the potential to improve prosthetic user comfort and prosthetic socket functionality.