Project description
More comfortable and personalised prosthetics
An estimated 215 000 amputation surgeries are conducted each year in Europe. There are also some 2.4 million amputees who depend daily on the quality of prosthetics. Since 90 % of these cases concern lower limbs, one major issue has to do with the quality of the prosthetic leg sockets. In this context, the EU-funded SocketSense project aims to make improvements. It will develop wearable sensors (based on patented Quantum Technology Supersensors™ materials) that can be placed inside the socket to collect real-time data about anatomical changes in residual limb and socket performance. This will pave the way for new personalised sockets, modelled exactly according to the user’s needs and convenience.
Objective
Limb amputations cause serious physical disabilities that compromise the quality of life of many people around the globe. There are 40 million amputees in the world with an estimated 2.4 million in the EU and approximately 215,000 amputation surgeries performed each year (around 90% are lower limb amputees). Thus, there is a growing demand for efficient prosthetic socket systems due to growing number of amputees and lack of an existing solution for the comfortable socket. This project aims to develop a new solution for a prosthetic socket by developing wearable sensors to be embedded in a socket for the amputee patients to wear in everyday life. The sensors will allow real-time data collection allowing prosthetist to monitor the evolution of the performance of existing socket as well as the anatomical changes of the residual limb of amputees. New algorithms will be developed to evaluate all the biomechanical characteristics so that once the existing socket does not serve the patient, a new socket will be produced automatically without the need for the patient to go to a clinic in advance. SocketSense will meet this healthcare need by means of sensors, biomechanical modeling, AI, unified software and additive manufacturing technologies. The sensors will be developed based on QTSS materials (patent protected under WO2017103592A1). Biomechanical analytical models will be developed to turn the sensor data into optimized socket design. The whole SocketSense technique and procedure will be validated through clinical trials. The proposed solution will help address the societal challenge of personalized health and care solution for the population of lower-limb amputees. The project will implement flexible and wearable electronics into new QTSS material fabricating lightweight, flexible, printed and multi-functional electronic sensors to be embedded in prosthetic socket system. The development in the project will address market demand worth €1.76 billion by 2021.
Fields of science
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencessoftware
- medical and health sciencesclinical medicinesurgery
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensors
- engineering and technologymechanical engineeringmanufacturing engineeringadditive manufacturing
- medical and health sciencesmedical biotechnologyimplants
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
RIA - Research and Innovation actionCoordinator
100 44 Stockholm
Sweden