Development of a soft robotic liner for prosthetic limbs and wearable devices
File(s)
Author(s)
Tanriverdi, Ugur
Type
Thesis
Abstract
Project Roliner is a comprehensive, translational and industrial research project that focuses on developing a soft robotic liner, Roliner, to improve the fitting comfort and performance for people with lower limb absence. The project not only developed a novel liner but also invented two manufacturing methods for elastomers. The thesis includes experiment designs that characterise the material properties of the Liner, its performance, and the design of a national clinical investigation (n=14) to assess the effectiveness of the novel liner. Furthermore, the study investigates critical elements of clinical adoption and translational research, such as manufacturing and scalability, funding, and medical device regulations, to create a viable adoption plan for the research outputs of this PhD project.
This thesis begins with an introduction to soft robotics, the concept of limb loss and the limiting success of existing prosthetic solutions to provide adequate comfort and performance. The study further explains the details of Roliner, its development process, and the two elastomer manufacturing methods invented during the project. The experimental designs for material characterisations, a pre-clinical study (n=5), and a national clinical trial design are presented, along with the data analysis methods and results.
The thesis also provides an analysis of the critical elements required for the successful clinical adoption of the Roliner. The manufacturing process and scalability of Roliner are assessed, along with the funding strategy required for this research. The medical device regulations and legal requirements for clinical adoption are also explored.
Overall, this PhD thesis provides an evaluation of Project Roliner, from developing the novel soft robotic liner to assessing its clinical adoption potential. The findings of this study could significantly impact the prosthetic industry by providing a more comfortable and efficient prosthetic fitting solution for people with limb loss.
This thesis begins with an introduction to soft robotics, the concept of limb loss and the limiting success of existing prosthetic solutions to provide adequate comfort and performance. The study further explains the details of Roliner, its development process, and the two elastomer manufacturing methods invented during the project. The experimental designs for material characterisations, a pre-clinical study (n=5), and a national clinical trial design are presented, along with the data analysis methods and results.
The thesis also provides an analysis of the critical elements required for the successful clinical adoption of the Roliner. The manufacturing process and scalability of Roliner are assessed, along with the funding strategy required for this research. The medical device regulations and legal requirements for clinical adoption are also explored.
Overall, this PhD thesis provides an evaluation of Project Roliner, from developing the novel soft robotic liner to assessing its clinical adoption potential. The findings of this study could significantly impact the prosthetic industry by providing a more comfortable and efficient prosthetic fitting solution for people with limb loss.
Version
Open Access
Date Issued
2023-04-24
Date Awarded
01/01/2024
License URL
Advisor
Guder, Firat
Publisher Department
Bioengineering
Publisher Institution
Imperial College London
Qualification Level
Doctoral
Qualification Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)