Healthcare Innovation Centre - SocketSense
Advanced sensor-based design and development of wearable prosthetic socket for amputees
Limb amputations cause serious physical disabilities that compromise the quality of life of millions of people around the globe. There is a growing demand for efficient prosthetic socket systems due to the growing number of amputees and the lack of an existing solution for the comfortable socket.
This project aims to develop a new solution for a prosthetic socket by developing wearable sensors to be embedded in a socket for the amputee patients to wear in everyday life. The sensors will allow real-time data collection allowing prosthetist to monitor the evolution of the performance of the existing socket, as well as the anatomical changes of the residual limb of amputees.
New algorithms will be developed to evaluate all the biomechanical characteristics so that once the existing socket does not serve the patient, a new socket will be produced automatically without the need for the patient to go to a clinic in advance.
Biomechanical analytical models will be developed to turn the sensor data into optimised socket design. The whole SocketSense technique and procedure will be validated through clinical trials. The proposed solution will help address the societal challenge of personalised health care solutions for the population of lower-limb amputees. It will implement flexible and wearable electronics into new QTSS material fabricating lightweight, flexible, printed and multi-functional electronic sensors to be embedded in prosthetic socket systems.
The proposed solution will address opportunities in the existing prosthetic market worth billions and will push technology barriers in emerging areas such as advanced intelligent AI/controller-based prosthetics that will utilise data-based approaches.
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