Replication of clinical prosthetic sockets for research purposes.
Alix Chadwell, Laurence Kenney, Michael Prince and 2 others
PMID 39601464WHAT IT FOUND
A silicone molding technique accurately cloned a single upper-limb prosthetic socket, with a mean shape difference of 0.16 mm.
This non-destructive method allows researchers to replicate clinical sockets for studies without needing a prosthetist or damaging the patient's original device.
Key findings
01The cloned socket showed a mean distance of 0.16 mm from the original socket, demonstrating high accuracy.
02The process is non-destructive, meaning the original clinical socket is not damaged during the replication.
03The method allows for the precise replication of electrode positions, which is critical for myoelectric control.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they found
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What it does not show
This is a single case study, so the accuracy may vary with different socket designs, materials, or clinicians. The technique has not been tested on sockets with leatherette components, which may be difficult to demold. The process requires practice to remove the initial silicone mold without distortion, as noted in the limitations. The study did not compare this method directly against traditional casting or scanning techniques for accuracy.
Declared interests
The work was supported by the UK National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). The authors disclosed no potential conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume this technique is validated for all prosthetic socket types or materials. It was tested on a single myoelectric socket, and the authors note it has not been tested on sockets with leatherette or validated against other replication methods.