We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing to browse this site you agree to our use of cookies. More info.
Every 30 seconds, a leg is amputated somewhere in the world due to diabetes. These patients often suffer from neuropathy, a loss of sensation in the lower extremities, and are therefore unable to detect damage resulting from an ill-fitting prosthesis, which leads to the amputation of a limb.
In Biomicrofluidics, by AIP Publishing, Canadian scientists reveal their development of a new type of prosthetic using microfluidics-enabled soft robotics that promises to greatly reduce skin ulcerations and pain in patients who have had an amputation between the ankle and knee.
More than 80% of lower-limb amputations in the world are the result of diabetic foot ulcers, and the lower limb is known to swell at unpredictable times, resulting in volume changes of 10% or more.
Typically, the prosthesis used after amputation includes fabric and silicone liners that can be added or removed to improve fit. The amputee needs to manually change the liners, but neuropathy leading to poor sensation makes this difficult and can lead to more damage to the remaining limb.
Rather than creating a new type of prosthetic socket, the typical silicon/fabric limb liner is replaced with a single layer of liner with integrated soft fluidic actuators as an interfacing layer. These actuators are designed to be inflated to varying pressures based on the anatomy of the residual limb to reduce pain and prevent pressure ulcerations."
Carolyn Ren, Author, University of Waterloo
The scientists started with a recently developed device using pneumatic actuators to adjust the pressure of the prosthetic socket. This initial device was quite heavy, limiting its use in real-world situations.
To address this problem, the group developed a way to miniaturize the actuators. They designed a microfluidic chip with 10 integrated pneumatic valves to control each actuator. The full system is controlled by a miniature air pump and two solenoid valves that provide air to the microfluidic chip. The control box is small and light enough to be worn as part of the prosthesis.
Medical personnel with extensive experience in prosthetic devices were part of the team and provided a detailed map of desired pressures for the prosthetic socket. The group carried out extensive measurements of the contact pressure provided by each actuator and compared these to the desired pressure for a working prosthesis.
All 10 actuators were found to produce pressures in the desired range, suggesting the new device will work well in the field. Future research will test the approach on a more accurate biological model.
The group plans additional research to integrate pressure sensors directly into the prosthetic liner, perhaps using newly available knitted soft fabric that incorporates pressure sensing material.
Lee, P.S., et al. (2022) Air microfluidics-enabled soft robotic transtibial prosthesis socket liner towards dynamic management of residual limb contact pressure and volume fluctuation. Biomicrofluidics. doi.org/10.1063/5.0087900.
Posted in: Device / Technology News | Medical Condition News
Tags: Amputation, Amputations, Anatomy, CHIP, Diabetes, Diabetic Foot, Diagnostic, Foot, Knee, Laboratory, Microfluidics, Neuropathy, Pain, Prosthetic, Research, Skin
Can spirituality lead to better health outcomes? In this interview, we speak to Dr. Tracy Balboni from Harvard Medical School to find out more!
In our latest interview, News-Medical speaks to Simon Parker, an infectious disease specialist, about hepatitis C diagnostics and testing, as well as why the global fight against hepatitis cannot wait.
Dr. Philippe Saint Cricq Riviere
In this interview, News-Medical talks to Philippe Riviere, Senior Scientist at NanoComposix (now a Fortis Life Sciences company) about mesoporous silica nanoparticles and the possibilities and opportunities they provide to drug delivery, vaccine development and more.
News-Medical.Net provides this medical information service in accordance with these terms and conditions. Please note that medical information found on this website is designed to support, not to replace the relationship between patient and physician/doctor and the medical advice they may provide.
This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here.
News-Medical.net - An AZoNetwork Site
Owned and operated by AZoNetwork, © 2000-2022