Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
The Ultimate Wearable: Connecting Prosthetic Limbs to the IoPH (Abstract,…
The Ultimate Wearable: Connecting
Prosthetic Limbs to the IoPH
Abstract
i. A new wearable device called the ‘Ubi-Sleeve’ is
currently being developed that enables prosthesis
wearers and other stakeholders to review temperature,
humidity and prosthesis slippage behavior during
everyday prosthesis wear.
ii. A combination of custom 3D
printed strain sensors and off the shelf temperature
and humidity sensors will be integrated into an
unobtrusive sleeve to create a device that enables a
deeper level of understanding of heat and sweat issues.
iii. To create the device, a series of experiments are in
progress that will quantify changes in heat, humidity
and slippage that negatively affect the prosthesis
experience
Introduction
i. Traditionally, computing has mainly been used to
improve prosthetic function via microprocessor powered
knees or ankles, rather than as a tool to understand
how prosthetics are (or are not) used. Sensor based
technologies have been adopted, but only to assess
quantities such as pressure and shear forces and gait
profile, with no understanding of how these affect the
prosthesis wearing experience. This research aims to
go beyond this and create a co-designed wearable
device with integrated heat, humidity and strain
sensors
ii. The Ubi-Sleeve
project aims to be the first demonstrator of how sensor
technologies can be co-designed and integrated into
prosthetics so they benefit multiple stakeholders.
The lack of understanding of amputee life
This is exemplified by the reliance on hours of
prosthesis wear, or frequency of wear as a common
representation of prosthesis ‘success’ [10] and a focus
on laboratory experiments that are too controlled to
provide any valid insights into real-world amputee life
Prescribing and designing for, not with
However, amputees often do not have an active role in selecting their prosthesis. This ‘prescribing-for-not-with’ process can result in greater rates of device
abandonment
Prescription and design present situations where real-world sensor data can be collected and relayed to clinicians and manufacturers to improve relevant prescriptions and design solutions. This data also presents an opportunity for prosthesis wearer empowerment- a body of evidence that can be presented at prosthetist appointments could help wearers easily articulate their problems. Sullivan stated that “facts known only by physicians need to be supplemented by values only known by patients”
An interpretation of this statement is that patient knowledge, whilst important, is simply supplemental. If patient values were backed up with patient data, they would become patient facts. This presents an opportunity to shift to a non-hierarchical structure, where patient and physician facts can influence prosthesis design and prescription equally.
Concept
To facilitate this change, the Ubi-Sleeve (figure 2) will
be a sensing device that enables ‘in the wild’ research
into amputee life.
The value of this data will be to
quantify the levels of temperature and humidity change
that results in increased of prosthesis slippage and a
negative prosthesis experience
For prosthesis wearers, this device can facilitate a deeper
understanding of the issues they face during daily living
and provide clinicians information that may improve
prescriptions. For prosthesis manufacturers, this
information will aid in the design of future prosthetic
devices that are tailored to prevent heat and sweat
issues occurring.
Manufacturing
A custom 3D printer is being developed that can print
exclusively in gel and paste materials, including silicone
rubber and hydrogels
Methods
A multiphase mixed method approach will be used to
facilitate explanatory and exploratory research.
Wearable sensor and pervasive health monitoring
frameworks [6,18] will be implemented in studies that
quantify heat, sweat and displacement changes that
result in a negative experience for prosthesis wearers.
Experience sampling methods will be employed in
tandem to asses the frequency and degree of negative
experience
This data will be analyzed using a
theoretical thematic analysis approach [2] and will help
inform the ideation process for different ways to
present data and possible ways prosthesis wearers and
prosthetists could interact with the data.
Data Redundancy
In the lab, participants will walk on a treadmill to simulate light physical exertion and in the wild setting, participants will be free to conduct their normal daily routine
This many sensors would be difficult to discretely integrate into a device such as the Ubi-Sleeve. With this in mind,
sensor positions that best track the average behaviour
of the residual limb will be used to reduce the total number of sensors that are integrated into the UbiSleeve
Data visualization and physicalization
An emerging theme from patient interviews has been
the importance of heat and sweating changes at
different times (both daily and seasonal) and locations
Rather than rely on software based
visualization, the possibility of presenting data change
via a physical device (e.g. change in shape, movement,
light) will be explored
One amputee suggested that there must be
multiple levels of visualization and include “at a
glance”, detailed “non expert” and detailed “expert”
display options
Conclusion
Connecting prosthetic limbs to the Internet of Personal
Health will benefit multiple stakeholders. The approach
described in this paper will ensure the Ubi-Sleeve is
useable and useful for multiple stakeholders and will
act as an exemplar of how HCI techniques and sensor
technologies can be applied to medical problems to
effectuate and facilitate change that benefits users,
clinicians and manufacturers.