A Workflow for Studying the Stump-Socket Interface in Persons with Transtibial Amputation through 3D Thermographic...

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Prosthetic socket fit is crucial for lower limb amputee limb acceptance.
• Clinical fitting relies on subjective patient feedback and professional assessment.
• Unreliable feedback necessitates objective measures like residual limb skin temperature monitoring.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a workflow for integrating 3D thermography with 3D residual limb scans.
• To quantify thermal variations on the residual limb skin during rest and post-activity.
• To create a 3D differential thermal map for improved prosthetic socket design.

Main Methods:

• Developed a workflow to integrate infrared thermography data with 3D scans of residual limbs.
• Calculated 3D thermal maps at rest and after walking.
• Generated a 3D differential thermal map summarizing temperature changes.
• Validated the workflow on a transtibial amputee with sub-3mm reconstruction accuracy.

Main Results:

• Successfully generated integrated 3D thermal and differential maps of the residual limb.
• Demonstrated the workflow's feasibility and accuracy for prosthetic socket adaptation.
• The method provides quantitative data to support clinical decision-making.

Conclusions:

• The developed workflow offers a quantitative approach to assess residual limb conditions for prosthetic fitting.
• Integrating 3D thermography with 3D scans can enhance prosthetic socket design and patient outcomes.
• This technology has the potential to improve prosthetic acceptance and quality of life for amputees.