Research Group: Engineering Materials
Research Theme: Bioengineering and Human Factors
Project Description
Quality of prosthetic socket fit is of highest important for lower limb amputees because the residual limb is subject to intensive and prolonged mechanical load during walking and daily activities. An ill-fitted socket could not only affect the usage and overall outcome of the prosthesis but also affect tissue health of the stump. This could be particularly prominent for amputees who often suffer from comorbidities including diabetes, peripheral vascular disease and peripheral neuropathy etc. Thus, their stump health is often vulnerable. In the last few years, Prof. Liudi Jiang’s group developed advanced sensors system as well as modelling capabilities to assess the biomechanical performance at this interface. Giving the strong potential of these advancements, in this fast evolving area of development, it is important to apply these novel science and technical approaches to real amputee benefit by developing a fully automatic, self-adjusting smart socket interface for amputees, leading to the “holy grail” in prosthetics. This is a multidisciplinary project that aims to improve general prosthetic socket fit underpinned by in-depth understanding of biomechanical characteristics at the critical stump/socket interface. Students with knowledge and background in one of the following fields are potentially suitable including mechatronics, mechanics, materials, design and computational modelling etc.
If you wish to discuss any details of the project informally, please contact Prof. Liudi Jiang with a brief CV, Email: l.jiang@soton.ac.uk Tel: +44 (0) 2380 59 8748