Procedure to connect prosthetic arm and residual limb leads to greater motion and comfort for amputee

The MPL was developed by the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) and the procedure represents a first for the field of prosthetics.

“This accomplishment has eliminated one of the biggest gaps in prosthetic development: the socket,” said Michael McLoughlin, chief engineer in APL’s Research and Exploratory Development Department.

The socket - the part of the prosthesis that attaches to the body - is the most critical component of prosthesis because if it does not fit correctly, the patient can experience pain, sores and blisters, and the prosthesis will feel heavy and cumbersome, said APL’s Courtney Moran, a clinical prosthetist.

“The sling does get a little uncomfortable after working with the MPL [Modular Prosthetic Limb] for a while,” said Johnny Matheny, one of several patients who have worked with the MPL over the years to help scientists, engineers and physicians fine tune its capabilities.

Matheny was the first patient at the Johns Hopkins Hospital to undergo targeted muscle reinnervation (TMR), a surgical procedure that reassigns nerves that once controlled the arm or hand, which can make it possible for upper-extremity amputees to better use and control an advanced prosthetic device.