METHODOLOGY TO INVESTIGATE EFFECT OF PROSTHETIC INTERFACE DESIGN ON RESIDUAL LIMB SOFT TISSUE DEFORMATION

BACKGROUND: Residual limb discomfort and injury is a common experience for people living with lower limb amputation. Frequently, inadequate load distribution between the prosthetic device and the residual limb is the root cause of this issue. To advance our understanding of prosthetic interface fit...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Thomas Arnstein, Arjan Buis
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Canadian Online Publication Group (COPG) 2024-01-01
Series:Canadian Prosthetics & Orthotics Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:https://jps.library.utoronto.ca/index.php/cpoj/article/view/42196
_version_ 1797352782840201216
author Thomas Arnstein
Arjan Buis
author_facet Thomas Arnstein
Arjan Buis
author_sort Thomas Arnstein
collection DOAJ
description BACKGROUND: Residual limb discomfort and injury is a common experience for people living with lower limb amputation. Frequently, inadequate load distribution between the prosthetic device and the residual limb is the root cause of this issue. To advance our understanding of prosthetic interface fit, tools are needed to evaluate the mechanical interaction at the prosthetic interface, allowing interface designs to be evaluated and optimised. OBJECTIVES: Present a methodology report designed to facilitate comprehension of the mechanical interaction between the prosthetic interface and the residual limb. As a pilot study, this methodology is used to compare a hands-on and hands-off interface for a single transtibial prosthesis user using secondary Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) data. METHODOLOGY: MRI data of the residual limb while wearing a prosthetic interface is segmented into a hard tissue and a skin surface model. These models are exported as stereolithography (STL) files. Two methods are used to analyse the interface designs. Firstly, CloudCompare software is used to compute the nearest vertex on the skin surface for every vertex on the compiled internal bony surface for both interface types. Secondly, CloudCompare software is used to compare registered skin surfaces of the residual limb while wearing the hands-on and hands-off interfaces. FINDINGS: The maximum and minimum nearest distances between the internal bony surface and skin surface were similar between interface types. However, the distribution of nearest distances was different. When comparing the skin surface while wearing both interfaces, where the fit is more compressive can be visualized. For the dataset used in this study, the classic features of a hands-on Patella Tendon Bearing interface and hands-off pressure cast interface could be identified. CONCLUSION: The methodology presented in this report may give researchers a further tool to better understand how interface designs affect the soft tissues of the residual limb. Layman's Abstract If a person loses all or part of their leg because of injury or disease, they may use a replacement limb to help them walk again. The replacement limb is attached to their remaining leg using a rigid shell and flexible liner. Sometimes, the skin, muscles, and other tissues of their remaining leg are damaged while wearing the replacement limb. Often, this is because the replacement limb fits poorly to their remaining leg. In order to design replacement limbs that do not cause injury, a better understanding of replacement limb fit is required. In this study, a method to understand how replacement limbs deform remaining limb skin, muscles, and other tissues, is presented. 3D medical images are taken of a person’s remaining leg while they wear two different types of replacement limbs. These images are processed into 3D models and then analysed to investigate deformation. Firstly, deformation of the remaining leg, caused by the replacement limb, is calculated based on the distance between the bone surface and skin surface of the remaining leg. Secondly, the shape of the outer surface of the remaining leg while wearing the different replacement limbs is compared. When this method was used to compare the remaining leg of a person while wearing two different types of replacement limb, using previously acquired medical 3D images, differences in the shape of the remaining limb were found. This method may be useful to help design better replacement limbs that do not cause injury in the future. Article PDF Link: https://jps.library.utoronto.ca/index.php/cpoj/article/view/42196/32357 How To Cite: Arnstein T, Buis A. Methodology to investigate effect of prosthetic interface design on residual limb soft tissue deformation. Canadian Prosthetics & Orthotics Journal. 2023; Volume 6, Issue 1, No.7. https://doi.org/10.33137/cpoj.v6i1.42196 Corresponding Author: Arjan Buis, PhD Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland. E-Mail: arjan.buis@strath.ac.uk ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3947-293X
first_indexed 2024-03-08T13:21:48Z
format Article
id doaj.art-8dd0ae8b82a944529fdecdc582ba79cc
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2561-987X
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-08T13:21:48Z
publishDate 2024-01-01
publisher Canadian Online Publication Group (COPG)
record_format Article
series Canadian Prosthetics & Orthotics Journal
spelling doaj.art-8dd0ae8b82a944529fdecdc582ba79cc2024-01-18T03:41:55ZengCanadian Online Publication Group (COPG)Canadian Prosthetics & Orthotics Journal2561-987X2024-01-016110.33137/cpoj.v6i1.42196METHODOLOGY TO INVESTIGATE EFFECT OF PROSTHETIC INTERFACE DESIGN ON RESIDUAL LIMB SOFT TISSUE DEFORMATIONThomas Arnstein0https://orcid.org/0009-0000-4083-3494Arjan Buis1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3947-293XDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland.Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland. BACKGROUND: Residual limb discomfort and injury is a common experience for people living with lower limb amputation. Frequently, inadequate load distribution between the prosthetic device and the residual limb is the root cause of this issue. To advance our understanding of prosthetic interface fit, tools are needed to evaluate the mechanical interaction at the prosthetic interface, allowing interface designs to be evaluated and optimised. OBJECTIVES: Present a methodology report designed to facilitate comprehension of the mechanical interaction between the prosthetic interface and the residual limb. As a pilot study, this methodology is used to compare a hands-on and hands-off interface for a single transtibial prosthesis user using secondary Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) data. METHODOLOGY: MRI data of the residual limb while wearing a prosthetic interface is segmented into a hard tissue and a skin surface model. These models are exported as stereolithography (STL) files. Two methods are used to analyse the interface designs. Firstly, CloudCompare software is used to compute the nearest vertex on the skin surface for every vertex on the compiled internal bony surface for both interface types. Secondly, CloudCompare software is used to compare registered skin surfaces of the residual limb while wearing the hands-on and hands-off interfaces. FINDINGS: The maximum and minimum nearest distances between the internal bony surface and skin surface were similar between interface types. However, the distribution of nearest distances was different. When comparing the skin surface while wearing both interfaces, where the fit is more compressive can be visualized. For the dataset used in this study, the classic features of a hands-on Patella Tendon Bearing interface and hands-off pressure cast interface could be identified. CONCLUSION: The methodology presented in this report may give researchers a further tool to better understand how interface designs affect the soft tissues of the residual limb. Layman's Abstract If a person loses all or part of their leg because of injury or disease, they may use a replacement limb to help them walk again. The replacement limb is attached to their remaining leg using a rigid shell and flexible liner. Sometimes, the skin, muscles, and other tissues of their remaining leg are damaged while wearing the replacement limb. Often, this is because the replacement limb fits poorly to their remaining leg. In order to design replacement limbs that do not cause injury, a better understanding of replacement limb fit is required. In this study, a method to understand how replacement limbs deform remaining limb skin, muscles, and other tissues, is presented. 3D medical images are taken of a person’s remaining leg while they wear two different types of replacement limbs. These images are processed into 3D models and then analysed to investigate deformation. Firstly, deformation of the remaining leg, caused by the replacement limb, is calculated based on the distance between the bone surface and skin surface of the remaining leg. Secondly, the shape of the outer surface of the remaining leg while wearing the different replacement limbs is compared. When this method was used to compare the remaining leg of a person while wearing two different types of replacement limb, using previously acquired medical 3D images, differences in the shape of the remaining limb were found. This method may be useful to help design better replacement limbs that do not cause injury in the future. Article PDF Link: https://jps.library.utoronto.ca/index.php/cpoj/article/view/42196/32357 How To Cite: Arnstein T, Buis A. Methodology to investigate effect of prosthetic interface design on residual limb soft tissue deformation. Canadian Prosthetics & Orthotics Journal. 2023; Volume 6, Issue 1, No.7. https://doi.org/10.33137/cpoj.v6i1.42196 Corresponding Author: Arjan Buis, PhD Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland. E-Mail: arjan.buis@strath.ac.uk ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3947-293X https://jps.library.utoronto.ca/index.php/cpoj/article/view/42196ProstheticInterfaceSocketMRITissue StrainDeformation
spellingShingle Thomas Arnstein
Arjan Buis
METHODOLOGY TO INVESTIGATE EFFECT OF PROSTHETIC INTERFACE DESIGN ON RESIDUAL LIMB SOFT TISSUE DEFORMATION
Canadian Prosthetics & Orthotics Journal
Prosthetic
Interface
Socket
MRI
Tissue Strain
Deformation
title METHODOLOGY TO INVESTIGATE EFFECT OF PROSTHETIC INTERFACE DESIGN ON RESIDUAL LIMB SOFT TISSUE DEFORMATION
title_full METHODOLOGY TO INVESTIGATE EFFECT OF PROSTHETIC INTERFACE DESIGN ON RESIDUAL LIMB SOFT TISSUE DEFORMATION
title_fullStr METHODOLOGY TO INVESTIGATE EFFECT OF PROSTHETIC INTERFACE DESIGN ON RESIDUAL LIMB SOFT TISSUE DEFORMATION
title_full_unstemmed METHODOLOGY TO INVESTIGATE EFFECT OF PROSTHETIC INTERFACE DESIGN ON RESIDUAL LIMB SOFT TISSUE DEFORMATION
title_short METHODOLOGY TO INVESTIGATE EFFECT OF PROSTHETIC INTERFACE DESIGN ON RESIDUAL LIMB SOFT TISSUE DEFORMATION
title_sort methodology to investigate effect of prosthetic interface design on residual limb soft tissue deformation
topic Prosthetic
Interface
Socket
MRI
Tissue Strain
Deformation
url https://jps.library.utoronto.ca/index.php/cpoj/article/view/42196
work_keys_str_mv AT thomasarnstein methodologytoinvestigateeffectofprostheticinterfacedesignonresiduallimbsofttissuedeformation
AT arjanbuis methodologytoinvestigateeffectofprostheticinterfacedesignonresiduallimbsofttissuedeformation