Using advanced composite materials and technology, researchers are moving ahead to a next generation of prosthetic limbs for military-veteran amputee patients. Florida State University’s High Performance Materials Institute (HPMI) is leading a major partnership that involves a two-year, $4.4 million contract with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
The VA Innovation Initiative (VAi2) project is aimed at addressing the shortcomings of current prosthetic socket systems through the development, testing and delivery of “Socket Optimized for Comfort with Advanced Technology” (SOCAT) prototypes.
“Despite the advances made in prosthetics over the years, the socket continues to be a major source of discomfort for our amputees due to issues arising from poor fit, elevated temperatures and moisture accumulation, ” said Changchun “Chad” Zeng, an assistant professor at the Florida A&M University-Florida State University College of Engineering and principal investigator on the project, in the January 16, 2013 news release. “These adverse conditions effectively limit the basic activities of amputees and can greatly diminish their quality of life. This award gives us the opportunity to tackle those problems so our veteran amputees can live better, more fulfilling lives.”
The project will result in prototypes that will feature a unique combination of advanced composite materials and technology, some of which are cornerstone research and development initiatives of HPMI. These components, such as auxetic materials, which have the unique property of getting fatter when stretched, and carbon nanotube buckypaper, will be used to enable an intelligent prosthetic socket system that monitors the socket environment. According to the news release, the system automatically adjusts to provide new, unmatched levels of comfort. In addition, vital information on the socket environment, such as pressure, temperature and moisture, will be recorded by the system and wirelessly transmitted to orthotic and prosthetic practitioners to facilitate better patient care.
The SOCAT research team being led by HPMI consists of Advanced Materials Professional Services, the Georgia Institute of Technology, Prosthetic and Orthotic Associates, Quantum Motion Medical and St. Petersburg College.
“This transformative project will leverage the latest advances in innovative materials and advanced manufacturing technologies to build the next-generation prosthetic socket system with significantly improved comfort, ” said Ben Wang, executive director of the Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute and a key researcher on the project. “These advanced materials can improve the fit, pressure points, humidity and temperature of the prosthesis so that the patient can wear it longer and much more comfortably.”
The first phase of the two-year contract will focus on developing and testing the specific technologies for individual socket components. The second phase will involve the refinement of each system/material and the complete production of the prototypes.
