The role of simulation tools to innovate the prosthesis socket design process
The products having a tight interaction with the human body require an high level of customization in order to fulfill comfort, usability and wearibility requirements. The prosthesis socket for lower amputees is an example of this kind of products. At present, the manufacture of a socket is almost an hand made activity performed by skilled orthopaedic technicians. With the aim to speed-up the design process and obtain more comfortable products, a computer design methodology to assist the design of such a kind of custom-fit goods is under investigation within t he framework of an Italian Research Project called DESPRO. In the paper the role of the simulation tools within the methodology under development is presented according to the design tasks. The application of the FEM and explicit solution strategies to simulate the biomechanical interaction between the socket and the stump of the patient is described. The use of shape optimization tools to speed-up the socket design process, is also, investigated and discussed. Some preliminary results of the suggested approach are introduced.
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Thank you for the question!
The FE method has been selected since it is able to supply better results in terms of pressure distribution on the limb surface with respect to other simulation tools as the mass-spring models. They are very difficult to be tuned according to the limb anatomy since the results in terms of pressure distribution on the socket-limb interface are strongly dependent on the mass and spring parameters.
The FE method with an explicit formulation is able to give results with the required accuracy to perform the socket optimization.
We are applying this method to design the body of car seat and other goods. In general, such a kind of simnulation tool can be used to design and optimize products having a tight interaction with the human body and the confort requirements play a fundamental role.
Cheers
Federico Rotini
Dear authors,
Thanks for your contribution to IPROMS2007 and uploading the presentation on time. The topic of applying simulation tools to innovate the prosthesis socket design is interesting and practical.
I am wondering why the FEM is selected to simulate the prosthesis socket. Also, could this method be applied to design other custom-fit products as well?
Cheers
Maria