Project Title:
Development of Moisture Management Liner for Improving Residual Limb Skin Care
Summary:
The environment inside a socket can often become moist because most materials that cover the residual limb in conventional prosthetic interfaces are non-breathable and trap perspiration. Poorly managed moisture at the interface between the residual limb and the inner prosthetic socket and/or liner can lead to skin irritation, infections, and decrease the usability of the prosthesis. Previous research reported that subjects with excessive perspiration were 3.3 times more likely to develop skin problems than subjects with normal perspiration. Discomfort associated with perspiration leads to decreased utilization and wear times of the prosthesis and a reduction in quality of life of the patient.
LTI has partnered with Vivonics, Inc. to develop liner technology that will both 1) increase the thermal conductivity of the liners (with the aim that it would be integrated with the active cooling socket system we are developing in parallel) and, 2) wick moisture away from the surface of the limb and out of the socket. A thermally conductive, moisture managing liner that passively reduces the development of elevated intra-socket perspiration and removes moisture when perspiration does accumulate aims to both improve amputee skin health and preserve a close, comfortable socket fit.
Funding:
The U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity, 820 Chandler Street, Fort Detrick MD 21702-5014 is the awarding and administering acquisition office. This work was supported by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, through the Peer Reviewed Orthopedic Research Program, under Award No. W81XWH1810745. Opinions, interpretations, conclusions and recommendations are those of the author and are not necessarily endorsed by the Department of Defense.
Expected Completion Date:
Fall of 2021
