Abstract
Many amputees experience pain and soreness due to poor fitting of their prosthetic socket, which is exacerbated by inevitable changes in volume and shape of their residual limb. This work presents an adjustable, adaptive residual-limb-fitting concept: integrating a 3D-printed variable-stiffness (VS) interface layer within the socket. We exploit the glass-transition behaviour of polylactic acid (PLA), demonstrating 3D-printed structures that can be transitioned from a rigid state to a soft state, simply by heating. This not only enables the socket to be adjusted to fit the individual’s residual limb, but also allows tuning of its stiffness by changing the internal structure of theinterface layer. The mechanical properties of 3D-printed variable-stiffness structures are investigated, and the shape-memory effect of PLA is also captured to deliver 3D-printed shape-memory structures that can recover from deformation when heated
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | RoboSoft 2019 - 2019 IEEE International Conference on Soft Robotics |
Publisher | Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) |
Pages | 410-415 |
Number of pages | 6 |
ISBN (Electronic) | 9781538692608 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 27 May 2019 |
Event | 2019 IEEE International Conference on Soft Robotics, RoboSoft 2019 - Seoul, Korea, Republic of Duration: 14 Apr 2019 → 18 Apr 2019 |
Conference
Conference | 2019 IEEE International Conference on Soft Robotics, RoboSoft 2019 |
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Country/Territory | Korea, Republic of |
City | Seoul |
Period | 14/04/19 → 18/04/19 |
Research Groups and Themes
- Tactile Action Perception
Keywords
- 3D printing
- Orthotics
- Prosthetics
- Rehabilitation robotics
- Shape-memory effect
- Variable-stiffness