Determination of Geometrical Parameters That Characterize Transfemural Stump

Abstract

It is essential to evaluate the volume and the size of the residual limb in order to design and implement a high-quality prosthesis, which can ensure optimal patient comfort. There is a wide collection of articles dealing with this issue. The blunt point wears out over time in terms of volume in the sense of growth - edema and in the sense of decrease - atrophy. The assessment of wear and tear over time of the contact surfaces belonging to blunt-prosthesis joint, as well as the tribological implications concerning the durability and damage of the prosthesis are absolutely necessary. The damage occurs in the modification of the tissues' vascularization (nutrition). All of these changes result in imperfect contact between the blunt and prosthesis. There are several methods - more or less different in complexity?- of measuring. We have identified 26 studies in this field: the volume of circulating water, anthropometric measurements, ultrasound, x-rays, laser scanning, MRI, bio-impedance, etc. One of the most widely used method is the commercial software package CAD/CAM (e.g. CAPOD system) for prosthetic sockets (higher cost) but also measurements using traditional tools (meter, tape measure, etc.). A common approximation of the residual limb is the one with trunks of cone and spherical segment with one base (spherical top) for a region of amputation that is close to that of this experimental paperwork. Besides the estimation of the volume, the area of demands (area and perimeter) of the curvilinear polygons are approximated by two methods: by considering a given polygon with the apex designed on the foreground and the area of the 3D points for a curvilinear polygon located on the trunks of cones and/or the apex. The selection of the points is done interactively by pointing with the mouse to the polygon's vertexes on the bitmap image displayed by graphical user interface.