Research for the design of prosthetic lower limb socket based on qualitative evaluation of the residual limbs of amputees

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26350692
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Rehabilitation science/Welfare engineering
• Research Institution: National Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Disabilities
• Principal Investigator: NAKAMURA TAKASHI 国立障害者リハビリテーションセンター(研究所), 研究所 義肢装具技術研究部, 義肢装具士 (40415360)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 義足 / 適合 / ソケット

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this research is a proposal of the new design method of the prosthetic lower limb socket. We investigated the relationship between the shape of the socket and the soft tissue structure of the stump, which is very important factor to determine the socket design and the socket fit.
MRI analysis showed characteristics of the stumps of the transfemoral amputees. The stiffness of the stump was measured by using an indentation hardness measuring instrument. It was correlated to the soft tissue structure of the stump. The differences between changes of shape and hardness of the stump were measured in conditions of doffing and donning of the socket. We constructed a trial model of a stump of a transfemoral amputee on the basis of the obtained data.

Free Research Field

義肢装具学