Numerical Simulations and Experimental Data to Evaluate Residual Limb-Socket Interaction

Abstract

This paper presents an automatic simulation procedure to study the stump-socket interaction that has been embedded within a software platform specifically developed to design lower limb prosthesis. In particular, it investigates and compares the results obtained by means of FE tools with the experimental data acquired with pressure transducers. A transfemoral (amputation above knee) male amputee has been considered as case study. Numerical simulations have been carried out considering different techniques to acquire the residuum geometry and different socket models. In details, two residuum geometric models were reconstructed starting from MRI images and from 3D scanning to investigate how acquisition techniques influence the final results. Two socket geometric models were taken into account. The first was the patient’s real socket, acquired by 3D scanning; the second one has been modeled using a dedicated CAD system, named Socket Modeling Assistant. The patient’s real socket has been also used to perform the experimental pressure measurements. The experimental data have been acquired by means of the Tekscan F-socket system. Results reached so far allowed identifying main criticalities and future developments to improve the accuracy of the numerical results and make available a full-automated simulation procedure.