Smart trans-humeral prosthetic socket

In wearable robotics, physical Human-Machine Interfaces (pHMIs) should be able to adapt to the continuous physiological changes of body parts in an active, ergonomic, and safe way, ensuring a stable and comfortable biomechanical coupling with the user [1]. This is particularly urgent in limb prostheses, where the pHMI is constituted by the socket. Indeed, traditional sockets are rigid and passive structures, causing significant discomforts and dermatological problems for patients, ultimately leading to device abandonment. Recent works indicate that 44% of upper limb amputees abandon their prostheses due to residual limb discomfort or pain, especially trans-humeral amputees [2]. In this work, a smart trans-humeral socket is proposed. It integrates soft pneumatic actuators, a sensorized prosthetic liner, a wearable control unit, and a mobile app to enable both open- and closed-loop adaptation to residual limb volume changes, over time.