Figure 5

Air splint prosthetic design and dynamic pressure mapping at the interface socket. (A) The subject with the air splint prosthesis socket. (B) Horizontal cross sectional area of the transhumeral socket showing three different conditions of the air splint socket with the residual limb: (a) a minimum normal position of air splint socket, (b) the air splint socket compressed directly until the desired size and fitting, (c) the maximum air splint socket size. (C) Illustration of socket components. (D) Vertical cross sectional showing three potential designs for the air splint socket compression to the residual limb; normal, size increase and size decrease; normal position as the air pump just turned on, the air splint socket will pump up until the pressure sensor detects the desired size and required volume of 40 kPa [20, 21], the air split socket will maintain the fit and size and increase and decrease the volume accordingly to maintain the required volume of 40 kPa. The pressure mapping stated how the interface pressure occur at all three condition remain maintain and the pressure was distributed constantly all over the socket interface. This condition helps to improve the proper fitting and avoid pain since the pressure applied had been distributed constantly throughout the entire socket.