Embedded System for Prosthetic Interface Mapping of Lower Limbs Amputees

The realization of lower limb prosthesis is mainly a handmade job. Even if today machines and computer aided design can speed-up the process, the residual limb modification in time requires a fine tuning of the socket that is done manually by artisans. In this work we present an embedded system designed to map the stress in the contact points between lower limb amputees and the prosthesis socket. The wearable system interfaces a matrix of 32 force sensors hosted by a flexible substrate. Data are collected in real-time and streamed wirelessly during normal daily activities, to provide a complete set of information to shape a prosthetic interface tailored to the patient. An aggressive power management allows the system to be autonomous for a full working day with high accuracy of the multiple data acquisition.