[AMP-L] Finding — and Keeping — the Perfect Fit for a Prosthetic Leg [Video]

[Wayne Renardson]

via University of Washington (home of AMP-L):

The muscles and tissues in arms and legs change throughout the day. 
They warm up, cool off, stiffen, swell or constrict based on things 
like activity level, environment and age.  

But a prosthetic leg does not change. People who rely on them must 
make manual adjustments throughout the day - usually by adding or 
removing padding within the socket of the prosthesis. This can be a 
cumbersome process in public, or when wearing certain clothing. 
Skipping adjustments can lead to pain or limit mobility.  

University of Washington Professor Joan Sanders and her team are 
creating a new type of prosthetic leg: one that automatically adjusts 
its fit throughout the day. Her group, housed within the Department 
of Bioengineering, designs, builds and tests prosthetics for people 
with below-the-knee amputations - also known as trans-tibial 
amputations. Their latest prototype alters its fit without the need 
for adjustments to padding or user action. It detects in real time 
how well the prosthesis socket and amputation site are fitting and 
responds by automatically changing the size of the socket.  

The rest of the story, with photo & video, here:

https://tinyurl.com/2hdmz8ww

Wayne R.