The role of simulation tools to innovate the prosthesis socket design process

The products having a tight interaction with the human body require an high level of customization in order to fulfill comfort, usability and wearibility requirements. The prosthesis socket for lower amputees is an example of this kind of products. At present, the manufacture of a socket is almost an hand made activity performed by skilled orthopaedic technicians. With the aim to speed-up the design process and obtain more comfortable products, a computer design methodology to assist the design of such a kind of custom-fit goods is under investigation within t he framework of an Italian Research Project called DESPRO. In the paper the role of the simulation tools within the methodology under development is presented according to the design tasks. The application of the FEM and explicit solution strategies to simulate the biomechanical interaction between the socket and the stump of the patient is described. The use of shape optimization tools to speed-up the socket design process, is also, investigated and discussed. Some preliminary results of the suggested approach are introduced.