SBIR Phase I: Adjustable Prosthetic Liner Using Contractile Electroactive Polymers

SBIR 第一阶段：使用可收缩电活性聚合物的可调节假体衬垫

• 批准号: 1721466
• 负责人: Lenore Rasmussen
• 金额: $ 22.5万
• 依托单位: Ras Labs, Inc.
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2017
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2017-07-01 至 2018-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1721466&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: SBIR; Phase; Adjustable; Prosthetic; Liner

The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will use shape-morphing electroactive polymers (EAPs), also known as synthetic muscle, to provide for a streamlined and very life-like way of configuring motion, which doesn't require motors, pulleys, gears, or cables like traditional mechanical based motion. The power to operate these EAPs is easily provided by electric input, including using off the shelf commercially available batteries. In addition to the focus of this proposal on adjustable liners, these EAPs could mend the gap between form and function for life-like prostheses. As impact attenuating and sensing materials, these EAPs could be developed to offer solutions for protective equipment and provide life-like motion and control for robotics. This proposal is focused on transforming the standard of care for people who have lost limbs or were born without fully developed limbs. The proposed project promises to transform the standard of care for people who have lost limbs or were born without fully developed limbs. Amputees using mechanically driven prostheses often experience increasing pain, as well as risk of skin breakdown and severe infections, even over the course of daily use, due to normal anatomical changes in the limb that are not accommodated by the static, rigid socket of their prosthetic device. Typically, most amputees' residual limbs shrink over the course of any given day, much like peoples' foot size changes from morning to evening. This proposed work aims to resolve the inadequacies of current prosthetic socket fit by using flexible pads of EAP based synthetic muscle, built into prosthetic liners, to automatically respond to changes in patient anatomy and ensure a continuously proper socket fit throughout the day. With the additional ability to sense pressure, these EAPs can also serve as a diagnostic tool to prevent skin breakdown. The prosthetic device and human should move as one, effortlessly and naturally. This proposal will develop self-adjusting prosthetic liners that responds to residual limb changes, maintaining a comfortable dynamic perfect fit throughout the day, to allow the patient to easily and comfortably engage in an active lifestyle.

这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力将使用形状变形电活性聚合物（EAP），也称为合成肌肉，以提供一种流线型和非常逼真的运动配置方式，不需要电机，滑轮，齿轮或电缆，就像传统的机械运动一样。 操作这些EAP的电力容易由电输入提供，包括使用现成的市售电池。 除了将重点放在可调节内衬上之外，这些EAP还可以弥补逼真假体的形式和功能之间的差距。 作为冲击衰减和传感材料，这些EAP可以被开发为防护设备提供解决方案，并为机器人提供逼真的运动和控制。 该提案的重点是改变对失去肢体或出生时肢体未发育完全的人的护理标准。 拟议中的项目承诺改变对失去肢体或出生时肢体没有完全发育的人的护理标准。 使用机械驱动假肢的截肢者通常会经历越来越多的疼痛，以及皮肤破裂和严重感染的风险，即使在日常使用过程中，这是由于肢体的正常解剖结构变化不被其假肢装置的静态刚性承窝所适应。通常情况下，大多数截肢者的残肢在任何一天都会缩小，就像人们的脚从早上到晚上的大小变化一样。 这项拟议的工作旨在解决目前的假肢接受腔配合的不足之处，通过使用弹性垫的EAP为基础的合成肌肉，内置到假体内衬，自动响应患者解剖结构的变化，并确保持续适当的插座适合一整天。 由于具有额外的压力感知能力，这些EAP还可以作为预防皮肤破裂的诊断工具。假肢装置和人应该像一个人一样移动，毫不费力和自然。 该提案将开发自调节假体内衬，以响应残肢变化，全天保持舒适的动态完美贴合，使患者轻松舒适地参与积极的生活方式。