FE Analysis of contact between residual limb and socket during simulation of amputee motion

The contact pressure at the socket–residual limb interface is the most important parameter to evaluate comfort of leg prosthesis. Experimental works analyzed this parameter for typical postures and during walking of an amputee; but experimental tests require a real prototype of the socket equipped with transducers. To optimize socket design, this work presents a virtual approach based on a digital avatar of the patient wearing lower limb prosthesis. Our approach considers the integration of two different types of simulation: the first one concerns the multi-body gait analysis, the second one the pressure evaluation at the socket–residual limb interface with FE analyses. The paper describes the model used, the simulation tools adopted and their integration. Finally the case study related to patient walking on flat floor is described.