Bioinspired Design of 3D-Printed Cellular Metamaterial Prosthetic Liners for Enhanced Comfort and Stability

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Engineering
• Additive Manufacturing
• Biomechanics

Background:

• Traditional prosthetic liners made from non-compressible elastomers cause discomfort due to uneven pressure distribution and poor limb adaptation.
• Existing manufacturing constraints limit customization options for prosthetic liners.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate bioinspired cellular metamaterial prosthetic liners using additive manufacturing.
• To enhance comfort and optimize the limb-prosthesis interface by reducing contact pressure and managing deformation.

Main Methods:

• Selected the gyroid unit cell for its isotropic properties and load distribution capabilities.
• Developed a multilinear material model from uniaxial compression test data.
• Utilized Finite Element Analysis (FEA) to compare cellular liners against silicone liners during simulated gait phases.

Main Results:

• Cellular liners offer superior customization and performance compared to silicone liners.
• Soft cellular liners reduced peak donning pressure but had higher deformation, suitable for sedentary users.
• Medium and hard cellular liners reduced pressure and deformation during dynamic gait, enhancing stability for active users.

Conclusions:

• Customizable stiffness in cellular metamaterial liners enables personalized prosthetic design for comfort and stability.
• 3D-printed metamaterial liners represent a promising alternative to traditional prosthetic materials.
• Further clinical validation is warranted for these novel prosthetic liners.