Thank you to the 95 participants in the survey for Prosthetists regarding
design of products in our industry for a senior design project. The results
were as followed.
1) In regards to product development, the most important area for the
industry to improve prosthetic devices is
Interface Materials- 49.47%
Fabrication Process- 16.84%
Components- 7.37% 7
Feet- 1.05% 1
Knees- 3.16% 3
Other (please specify)- 22.11%
If Other was chosen, the respondent was asked for additional comments. The
responses were as follows:
– suspension-no pistoning and simple
– assessing the outcomes/validity of devices
– K2 level simple inexpensive stance yeilding microprocessor controlled
knee.
– Upper Extremity
– Suspension mechanism
– socket design
– PROOF OF EFFACY
– Neurocorrelation coefficients
– interface design-not materials
– Interface Design
– Lower costs of products, especially MPKs
– Socket fitting consistency
– Upper extremity
– HD terminal devices
– Sockets the connection between prosthesis and human.
– socket design
– good k-2 knee
– discerning product to patient match
– More indepth training for Prosthetists students
– volume self accomodating sockets
– Interface and suspension methods
2) I expect a transtibial socket to maintain a comfortable fit for
a) 1-2 years- 23.16%
b) 2-3 years- 33.68%
c) 3-4 years- 12.63%
d) 4-5 years- 4.21%
e) More than 5 years- 3.16%
f) Other (please specify)- 23.16%
If Other was chosen, the respondent was asked for additional comments. The
responses were as follows:
– This is a difficult question to answer, as it depends alot on where the
amputee is (new amputee vs older residual limb)
– it just varies too much to set a time range
– maintaining fit is always dependent on residual limb maturity and patinet
weight gain and loss
– depends upon patient anatomiical changes, not universal
– Differs depending on age of amputation and weight change
– New amputee 1-2 yrs- seasoned-3-5 yrs
– Depends on unique histological dynamics
– 6-12 months for a new amputee and 12-18months for a mature lim
– Too many patient variables
– as long as there is no pysiologic change to teh pateint
– It depends on many things – age of amputee (child or adult) how long
since amputation you can expect the residual limb to lose volume as it
matures,
– I don’t have a preconceived expectation. Patients limbs change at
different rates.
– Initial socket while limb is changing… 6mo to a year, definitive socket
on mature limb… 3 years ideally
– Patient dependent
– Depends on the patient’s weight/volume changes
– deoebds ib age of limb and lifestyle
– Too many factors to predict ever
– 5-6 years was the lifespan of a prosthesis in the 1960s
– depends on the patient being fit, and the age of the patient. A less
active patient the socket should fit for a longer period of time vs an
active patient.
– depends on how new the pt is/rate of volume fluctuation
– Too many variables to predict.
– Depends on the patient. Weight fluctuation and limb volume changes vary
greatly patient to patient.
The responses from questions 3-5 to follow in part 2 of this post.
If you have any questions regarding the survey, please feel free to contact
me.
Best regards,
Cara Negri, CP
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