title: Technical note: Computer-manufactured inserts for prosthetic sockets.
abstract: The objective of this research was to use computer-aided design software and a tabletop 3-D additive manufacturing system to design and fabricate custom plastic inserts for trans-tibial prosthesis users. Shape quality of inserts was tested right after they were inserted into participant's test sockets and again after four weeks of wear. Inserts remained properly positioned and intact throughout testing. Right after insertion the inserts caused the socket to be slightly under-sized, by a mean of 0.11mm, approximately 55% of the thickness of a nylon sheath. After four weeks of wear the under-sizing was less, averaging 0.03mm, approximately 15% of the thickness of a nylon sheath. Thus the inserts settled into the sockets over time. If existing prosthetic design software packages were enhanced to conduct insert design and to automatically generate fabrication files for manufacturing, then computer manufactured inserts may offer advantages over traditional methods in terms of speed of fabrication, ease of design, modification, and record keeping.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, 3720 15th Ave NE, Seattle, Washington 98195 USA. Electronic address: jsanders@uw.edu.
authors.forename: Joan E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Sanders
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, 3720 15th Ave NE, Seattle, Washington 98195 USA. Electronic address: jakemc@uw.edu.
authors.forename: Jake B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: McLean
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, 3720 15th Ave NE, Seattle, Washington 98195 USA. Electronic address: jcagle@uw.edu.
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Cagle
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, 3720 15th Ave NE, Seattle, Washington 98195 USA. Electronic address: davidg87@uw.edu.
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Gardner
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, 3720 15th Ave NE, Seattle, Washington 98195 USA. Electronic address: kate@allyn.org.
authors.forename: Katheryn J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Allyn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001186:Artificial Limbs; D017076:Computer-Aided Design / Q000295:instrumentation; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011474:Prosthesis Design / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D013977:Tibia
keywords: Accommodation; Amputee; CAD/CAM; Residual limb; Socket; Trans-tibial; Volume loss