Thermal Regulating Prosthetic Sleeve

Thermal Regulating Prosthetic Sleeve

R. Grubbs1, M. Yough1, O. Rose1, A. Lee2, T. Sicree3, Dr. Saeed Tiari1

1Biomedical Engineering Department Gannon University 2Mechanical Engineering Department Gannon University 3Electrical Engineering Department Gannon University

Countless lives are affected each year by the need for a limb amputation. With this, the site of any particular amputation can be very sensitive to environmental changes, especially temperature. When temperatures get down around freezing and people are exposed to it for any lengthy period of time, this site can become very painful. Long term exposure can even constitute tissue damage. In today’s technological day in age there are tons of innovative prosthetic limbs that help improve the lives of countless amputees, but there is little that can be done to protect their amputation site from these extremely low temperatures. That is why we are proposing to design and construct a thermal regulating sleeve that will be placed around the prosthetic device right around the base. This device will create dry heat that will also be able to be regulated by the user with a knob or button. With this device, amputees would be able to comfortably do chores outside in the winter, or attend cold weather sports games, like late season football or soccer.

So far, we as a group have created a computer aided design of our project. We have also worked hard to establish constraints and the important customer needs. A final materials list has also been established so that we can begin to purchase and test to determine which of them performs the best. Our next steps will be to complete testing and to start building prototypes. The timetable for completion of this device will be Spring 2019.

Once completed, the device will specifically be produced to fit an above the knee prosthetic and will work as follows. The body of the thermal regulating prosthetic sleeve will be placed around the base of the prosthetic, the part that the leg will be inserted into. A sleeve that goes along with the device will also be placed around the base of the amputee’s leg. This sleeve will contain temperature sensors whose data will be linked to a micro controller that will display the temperature of the leg. Once he or she decides that the environment or leg is too cold, they can turn a knob or button to turn the heating element of the device on. The sleeve on the outside of the prosthetic will then radiate heat to the prosthetic and by thermal conductivity, the person’s leg. The system will also contain a maximum temperature fail safe, so that if the device would happen to malfunction it will automatically shut off and not harm the wearer.