A Prototype Thermoregulator for Prosthetic Socket Microenvironments in a Low-resourced Setting

Background: Thermal discomfort significantly hinders consistent prosthesis use among amputees, particularly in low-resource settings like Ghana, where conventional sockets often lead to passive heat accumulation and associated skin issues. Methods: A convection-based thermoregulator prototype was developed using widely available, open-source components. The system was integrated into a hard transtibial prosthetic socket with four strategically drilled ventilation holes. A rigorous bench-top experiment was conducted, employing a standardized heat gun to apply a consistent thermal load for 14 minutes, followed by a 26-minute cooling phase. Two identical setups were tested for direct comparison. Performance was evaluated and quantitative analysis of cooling rates using exponential decay models. Results: The active thermoregulator demonstrated superior cooling, reducing the experimental socket temperature from its peak to below the 35 C comfort threshold in approximately 8 minutes, achieving a total reduction of 13.9 C at an average rate of 0.53 C/min over the 26-minute cooling phase. In contrast, the control group exhibited a slower, natural cooling, with a total reduction of 6.5 C at an average rate of 0.25 C/min. Quantitative analysis of cooling constants confirmed the active system's rate (k=0.01/min) was 2.5 times greater than natural convection (k=0.004/min). These findings establish the fundamental feasibility of an active, convection-based thermoregulator for prosthetic sockets. Conclusion: The prototype effectively demonstrates the ability to actively dissipate heat, offering a significant improvement over passive cooling.