“Wearable Sensors for Assessment of Stress Distribution in Prosthetic Sockets”
Julia Ernst, S.B. ’18, bioengineering
Advisors: Ryan Truby, postdoctoral fellow in the lab of Jennifer Lewis, Hansjorg Wyss Professor of Biologically Inspired Engineering, and Tyler Clites, Ph.D. student in the Harvard-MIT Health Sciences and Technology program
Because prosthetic devices are often poorly made and ill-fitting, more than a quarter of prosthesis wearers experience severe pain and discomfort and inevitably stop using their artificial limbs. Ernst developed a prosthetic socket-integrated sensing system to measure the pressure and shear forces that are the biggest contributors to patient discomfort. Her lightweight sensors have a biocompatible adhesive backing and are created from ultrathin components using a multi-material 3D printer. The soft, capacitive sensors are easier to integrate into a prosthetic socket than the standard rigid sensors, and because they are 3D printed, cost less than $10 per sensor. Ernst’s system can help prosthetists identify regions of excessive stress on the residual limb, enabling them to reshape a patient’s prosthetic socket to reduce pressure on sensitive regions and improve overall comfort.
“Last summer, I was able to pursue my passion for prosthetics by volunteering at an Ecuadorian prosthetic clinic. Through dozens of conversations with patients, I learned that many amputees experience severe pain and discomfort while wearing their prosthetic devices,” she said. “When I returned to campus this past fall, I was inspired to develop a device to help prosthetists design safer, more comfortable sockets.”