A domestic research team has developed an artificial leg socket optimized for patients with thigh amputation. It detects the loose space of the socket in real time and automatically fills the inside of the socket. It is expected to reduce the pain in the affected area by dispersing the pressure on the affected area.
Lee Kang-ho, a senior researcher at the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials, announced on the 16th that he has developed a smart customized prosthetic socket.
Wearing a socket that does not fit the size, width, or shape of the cut area causes shaking, pressure, and friction of the affected area, causing walking fatigue and skin disease in the cut. There are overseas products that adjust the size of sockets by dial, but patients suffered inconvenience because they had to manually operate them every time.
The developed prosthetic sockets can respond up to 15% to changes in cut areas that change frequently depending on blood circulation, skin tissue conditions, and nutritional conditions. In addition, by continuously judging the walking stability of the wearer based on artificial intelligence (AI), the prosthetic sockets are controlled to change in real time according to changes in the walking environment such as flat land, stairs, and ramps and walking speed.