Designing a Soft Actuator for Prosthetic Sockets
Author Information
Author(s): Mollaee Saeed, HajiRassouliha Amir, Budgett David M., Taberner Andrew J., Nielsen Poul M. F.
Primary Institution: Auckland Bioengineering Institute, The University of Auckland
Hypothesis
Can a pneumatic actuator array improve the comfort and fit of prosthetic sockets for transtibial amputees?
Conclusion
The study presents a cost-effective pneumatic actuator array that can dynamically adjust to improve comfort and pressure distribution in prosthetic sockets.
Supporting Evidence
- The actuator array can dynamically conform to the user's skin, alleviating localized pressure.
- Surface deformation fields were examined under realistic load conditions, achieving predictive accuracies within 70 µm.
- The Ogden N3 model predicted actuator deformation with an accuracy of 16%.
- The findings can be applied to other robotics applications requiring soft, deformable interfaces.
Takeaway
This study shows how a special air-filled device can help make prosthetic legs more comfortable by changing shape to fit better.
Methodology
The study used finite element modeling and a new imaging technique to analyze the performance of a pneumatic actuator array under various loading conditions.
Limitations
The study primarily focuses on a specific actuator design and may not account for all variations in prosthetic socket needs.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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