SBIR Phase I: Adjustable Prosthetic Liner Using Contractile Electroactive Polymers

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（EAPs），也称为合成肌肉，提供一种流线型和非常生活化的运动配置方式，不需要电机、滑轮、齿轮或传统机械运动那样的电缆。操作这些eap的电力很容易通过电力输入提供，包括使用现成的市售电池。除了可调节衬垫之外，这些eap还可以修复仿生假肢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可以开发为保护设备提供解决方案，并为机器人提供逼真的运动和控制。这项建议的重点是改变对失去肢体或生来就没有完全发育肢体的人的护理标准。拟议中的项目有望改变对失去四肢或生来就没有完全发育四肢的人的护理标准。使用机械驱动假肢的截肢者经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，甚至在日常使用过程中也是如此，因为肢体的正常解剖变化不能被假肢装置的静态刚性插座所适应。通常情况下，大多数截肢者的残肢在任何一天都会缩小，就像人的脚大小早晚都会发生变化一样。本研究旨在解决目前人工关节套配合的不足，将基于EAP合成肌肉的柔性垫片内置于假体衬垫中，以自动响应患者解剖结构的变化，并确保全天持续适当的关节套配合。有了额外的感知压力的能力，这些eap也可以作为一种诊断工具来防止皮肤破裂。假肢装置和人应该像一体一样，毫不费力、自然地运动。该提案将开发自我调节的假肢衬垫，以响应残肢的变化，全天保持舒适的动态完美贴合，使患者能够轻松舒适地参与积极的生活方式。

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.