Process rapidly develops bespoke liners for prosthetics

This is the claim of a team of researchers from Bath University who’ve combined advanced 3D scanning to create digital models for affordable and potentially life-changing personalised prosthetic liners.

In England alone there are over 45,000 people reliant on prosthetic limbs, with more than 5,000 people each year having new lower-limb amputations. For these individuals, the interface between their residual limb (the amputation site) and their artificial limb is essential for maintaining healthy, active lives. Furthermore, a good fit could make the difference in whether or not they walk again.

Following an amputation, a person's residual limb constantly changes in shape and size as it heals, a process that can last between 12 to 18 months. According to Bath University, this variation can result in the liner fitting poorly, leading to tissue damage, causing pain and discomfort for amputees. This is exacerbated by patient activity levels and environmental conditions such as hot weather. This discomfort can lead to patients abandoning their prosthesis and rehabilitation regime, instead being forced to rely on a wheelchair.