On the use of Force Sensitive Resistor Sensors Towards the Improvement of Comfort in Canine Limb Prostheses

Canine limb amputations cause, in many cases, the use of prostheses to restore limb function and improve the quality of life. However, prosthesis use may also cause discomfort problems due to the poor distribution of forces in the socket of the prosthesis, which causes skin lesions, pain, infections, and other complications. Therefore, a system for monitoring the forces between the socket and the residual limb is critical to extract information to improve socket and prosthesis design. This paper presents a portable force monitoring system using Interlink Electronics FSR 402. The system has a user interface that shows, in real-time, in a 3D model, the forces applied on the residual limb through a heat map. In addition, the user interface features force graphs over time, allowing analysis over long periods. Results indicated that implementing this system would help improve socket and prosthesis designs of amputated canine limbs.