Automated and Data-Driven Computational Design of Subject-Specific Prosthetic Sockets

Complications of prosthetic leg use in persons with lower extremity amputation often occur at the prosthetic socket, and includes delayed wound healing, recurrent skin ulcerations, and pressure damage to soft tissues. Such complications can result in limited mobility, which further contributes to conditions such as obesity, musculoskeletal pathologies, and cardiovascular disease. Conventional prosthetic socket fabrication is an artisanal process requiring substantial human hours, financial cost and patient involvement for evaluation. Computer aided design (CAD) and computer aided manufacturing (CAM) methods have been explored as an alternative. However, these tools have not reached full clinical efficacy and do not inform the design in a data-driven sense since the actual design process remains a manual and experience-based procedure. The long-term goal of our research is to develop a fully-quantitative process for prosthetic socket design and production that requires minimal patient involvement and can be delivered at affordable price points.