LimbShield prosthetic liner

Sensor-Integrated Transtibial Prosthetic Liner To Assess Factors Influencing Skin Breakdown.

Skin breakdown is a common problem for people who wear below-knee (transtibial) prostheses. LimbShield embeds sensors in a standard gel liner so it works with existing prosthetic sockets, and measures the conditions linked to skin breakdown at the skin surface.

Team Sensineers: Alex Lu, Andrew Gene, Ariane von Schenck, Griffin Cross, Megan Demeo and Rei Miyauchi. Advisors: Herb Barrack, Nagarjun Bhat, Dr. Samuel Ward, Inam Khan and Dr. Ken Loh.

My part: sensor integration and heat mapping

• Integrated multimodal sensors into the liner: moisture and temperature on the gel for direct skin contact, pressure on the outer surface
• Target ranges: 0–400 kPa pressure, 28–36 °C temperature, 30–100% relative humidity
• Built the data chain: sensors → Arduino → MATLAB processing → a heat map rendered on a 3D scan of the residual limb
• The sensors are original designs from the Wang and Loh labs; our team integrated them into the liner

Bench testing

We planned bench characterization on a 3D-printed transtibial limb: a heating plate and thermometer for temperature, a sealed container with a humidifier and hygrometer for moisture, and calibrated weights for pressure. Testing was partially completed within the capstone.