A computer-assisted methodology to innovate the development process of prosthesis socket

In this paper we propose a computer-assisted methodology to improve prosthesis development process. We consider the case of the socket (interface between the residual limb and the mechanical part of the prosthesis) both for trans-femoral or trans-tibial amputee since it requires a high level of customisation. The new paradigm forecasts the integration of the following techniques: reverse engineering and medical imaging for the acquisition of patient’s morphology and bony-muscular structure, virtual prototyping to model the limb and the socket, physics-based simulation to reproduce the real movement of the patient and the interaction between the socket and stump and, finally, rapid prototyping tools for the physical realization of the product. The paper describes problems related to the implementation of each step within a real socket development process; in particular, first results regarding the reconstruction of the stump virtual model and physics-based simulation will be presented and discussed.