FURI | Fall 2018

Active Temperature Managment for Transtibial Prosthetic Sockets

Transtibial amputations are rapidly increasing due to dysvascular complications associated with diabetes and 53% of amputees experience heat discomfort with their current prosthetic. Active temperature management inside prosthetic sockets, using thermally conductive metal and Peltier thermoelectric cooling modules, offers a rapid, solid-state, and low profile solution for fluctuating residual limb temperatures throughout the day. Using an Arduino feedback loop, small changes in temperature are detected and the appropriate thermoelectric cooling response is administered. The impact of this research increases the duration a prosthetic can be worn comfortably, boosting prosthetic use and overall quality of life.