A new device could help to relieve the pain and discomfort experienced by thousands of amputees as a result of poorly fitting replacement lower limbs. University of Southampton researchers are developing a prototype of the world鈥檚 first prosthetic 鈥榠ntelligent鈥� liner with integrated pressure sensors, which could be available to NHS patients in as little as three years.
The sensors for the device, invented by Dr Liudi聽Jiang and an interdisciplinary team at the University, measure the pressure and pulling forces at the interface between a patient鈥檚 stump and socket of their prosthesis. In excess these pressures can cause tissue damage, leading to painful sores.
Dr Liudi聽Jiang said: 鈥淪ocket fit is the single biggest factor determining whether prosthesis will be successful for a patient. If we had a simple way to accurately measure the load at the socket-stump interface and determine the best possible fit for that limb, it would completely transform the socket fit experience for amputees.
鈥淲e鈥檙e hoping that the development of the intelligent liner will be the first step leading to the 鈥榟oly grail鈥� in prosthetics 鈥� a fully automatic, self-adjusting smart socket interface for amputees.鈥�
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