[AMP-L] Socket Automatically Adjusts for Residual Limb Fluctuations [Video link]

[Wayne Renardson]

via O&P Edge:

More on Dr. Sanders at University of Washington:

Kate Allyn, CPO, is the prosthetist on the project, which is being 
led by Sanders at her lab at the University of Washington Department 
of Bioengineering.  

"[The small changes] have a big impact because they maintain a fit 
between residual limb and socket that is not too tight and not too 
loose-but just right," said Allyn.  

A gel interface material in the prosthetic sleeve contains a small 
amount of iron, and sensors embedded in the socket wall detect the 
distance to the iron in the gel and send that data to the socket´s 
microcontroller. The microcontroller calculates whether adjustments 
are needed. If so, it transmits instructions to three motorized 
panels within the socket wall-two in the front, one in the back-and 
they move to make the socket smaller or larger in increments less 
than a millimeter at a time. Changes can also be controlled manually 
via an app on the user´s smartphone.  

The rest of the story, with video link, here:

https://tinyurl.com/25x4ynlg

Wayne R.