BME Senior Design Group 17
SkinSense Solutions
Detecting Skin Breakdown Conditions at the Prosthesis-Limb Interface
Background
Of the 1.7 million prosthetic limbs used by Americans, 70% are below-knee prostheses. Over 75% of amputees with lower-limb prostheses experience skin irritation at the prosthesis-limb interface due to an ill-fitting prosthetic limb. If a prosthesis misfit goes untreated, reversible skin irritation can develop into skin breakdown which is not reversible. Forms of skin breakdown include scrapes, cuts, tears, blisters, and burns. In more serious cases, pressure injuries and/or pressure ulcers can form.
These skin conditions burden the healthcare system and affect the daily lives of people with below-knee prosthetics, hindering their mobility, comfort, and ability to perform daily activities such as walking.
Fortunately, skin breakdown is preventable. Friction, shear stress, heat, moisture, and pressure gradients cause skin breakdown. These factors lead to the softening, tearing, and ulceration of the skin. Continuous and effective monitoring of these factors can provide amputees with important information about their prosthesis fit.
Need Statement
There is a need to detect skin breakdown conditions at the socket-limb interface to prevent severe skin injuries in prosthetic users with neuropathy.
Project Scope
Often people with prosthetics, especially those with neuropathy, cannot feel if their lower-limb prosthetic fits safely. There is a need for a sensing unit that detects skin breakdown conditions at the prosthetic contact site before severe injuries such as sores and abrasions occur. The sensing device must cost less than $500, have a mass of less than 1 kg, be water-resistant, and remain functional after enduring 4200 N of compressive force. Additionally, the sensing device cannot cause any injury or patient discomfort. A prototype of the sensing system with the necessary software and user guide will be made available to the client, Phoenix Biomedical, by April 1st, 2025.