Project Details

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Wearable pressure sensing device for residual limbs in amputees

Company: Penn State College of Medicine

Major(s):
Primary: BME
Secondary: ME
Optional: EE

Non-Disclosure Agreement: NO

Intellectual Property: YES

This capstone engineering project is for the design and development of a wearable sensing device capable of measuring prosthetic-related pressures at the prosthetic–residual limb interface in individuals with limb loss. The project may also incorporate thermal and moisture sensors. Excessive or uneven interface pressures are a major contributor to pain, skin breakdown, and poor prosthetic fit, yet are difficult to quantify in routine clinical practice. The proposed device will integrate flexible pressure sensors into a wearable device compatible with common prosthetic sockets, enabling real-time, spatially resolved pressure measurements during static and dynamic activities. Engineering efforts will focus on sensor selection, data acquisition, and validation under representative loading conditions, with emphasis on comfort, durability, and minimal interference with prosthetic function. The long-term goal is to provide clinicians and prosthetists with objective data to inform socket design, fitting, and adjustment, ultimately improving comfort, function, and quality of life for amputees.