Socketmaster: Integrated Sensors System for the Optimised Design of Prosthetic Socket for above Knee Amputees

This work reports the latest results of the development of a tri-axial force sensors designed to be implemented in a master socket for a fast customization of prosthetic socket for lower limb. Up to now, the production of a prosthetic socket is a handcraft process that strongly depends on the prosthetist experience. The device presented in this paper is designed to provide a more detailed data to be used in the socket design. In order to achieve this task, we realized a smart sensor unit based on MEMS tri-axial force micro sensors with read out electronics for the continuous monitoring of parameters as the shear stress and normal pressure interaction between the leg and the socket.