Interface Pressure System to Compare the Functional Performance of Prosthetic Sockets during the Gait in People with Trans-Tibial Amputation.

Joel C Huegel,Rita Q Fuentes-Aguilar,B Alemon,Salvador Ibarra Aguila,Eric E Sauvain,Gisel J Sánchez

doi:10.3390/s20247043

Joel C Huegel, Rita Q Fuentes-Aguilar + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/s20247043

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Abstract

The interface pressure between the residual limb and prosthetic socket has a significant effect on the amputee’s mobility and level of comfort with their prosthesis. This paper presents a socket interface pressure (SIFP) system to compare the interface pressure differences during gait between two different types of prosthetic sockets for a transtibial amputee. The system evaluates the interface pressure in six critical regions of interest (CROI) of the lower limb amputee and identifies the peak pressures during certain moments of the gait cycle. The six sensors were attached to the residual limb in the CROIs before the participant with transtibial amputation donned a prosthetic socket. The interface pressure was monitored and recorded while the participant walked on a treadmill for 10 min at 1.4 m/s. The results show peak pressure differences of almost 0.22 kgf/cm between the sockets. It was observed that the peak pressure occurred at 50% of the stance phase of the gait cycle. This SIFP system may be used by prosthetists, physical therapists, amputation care centers, and researchers, as well as government and private regulators requiring comparison and evaluation of prosthetic components, components under development, and testing.

Highlights

The pressure exerted by a prosthetic socket over the residual limb is known as interface pressure (IP); see Figure 1
For the comparative test between the socket interface pressure (SIFP) device and the F-Socket, once the readings of all the iterations carried out were obtained, the pressures exerted on each sensor were filtered and analyzed
Once the graphs are normalized, the differences in the readings between one sensor and another can be observed, where it can be seen that, there are some differences in the pressure readings, the SIFP device is capable of obtaining pressure readings

Summary

Introduction

The pressure exerted by a prosthetic socket over the residual limb is known as interface pressure (IP); see Figure 1. The IP has a significant effect on the amputees mobility, comfort and level of satisfaction about their prosthesis. Bio-mechanical interfaces are mechanical structures that form the connection between a device and a tissue region, thereby aiming to minimize tissue discomfort and injury, while still adequately transferring loads and forces back and forth from the musculoskeletal system to the prosthesis. For transtibial amputees, this bio-mechanical interface typically consists of a prosthetic liner and socket which together aim to provide a quality fit. A quality fit can be defined as the ability to provide comfort and appropriate load distribution [1]

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