Using a Sweating Residuum/socket Interface Simulator for the Evaluation of Sweat Management Liners in Lower Limb...

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Prosthetics and Orthotics
• Biomechanics

Background:

• Lab-based simulators reduce variability in prosthetics research.
• The effects of sweating at the residuum-liner interface remain understudied.
• A simulator was developed to replicate residual limb perspiration mechanics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To create and validate a simulator for residual limb perspiration.
• To assess the impact of perspiration on residuum-liner mechanics.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of different liner designs under simulated sweating conditions.

Main Methods:

• An artificial residuum was 3D-printed with a porous silicone model.
• Simulated sweating was achieved by emitting water from the residuum surface.
• Cyclic loading tests were performed on standard and perforated liners under dry and sweating conditions.

Main Results:

• Sweating significantly increased displacement variability with unperforated liners (threefold increase).
• Perforated liners showed minimal change in displacement variability during simulated sweating.
• The developed simulator demonstrated low variance (<1%) in displacement during dry tests.

Conclusions:

• The developed apparatus effectively simulates perspiration at the residual limb.
• Moisture at the skin-liner interface leads to mechanical inconsistencies.
• Perforated liners mitigate perspiration effects by removing sweat from the interface.