The effect of liner design and materials selection on prosthesis interface heat dissipation

Williams, RJ; Washington, ED; Miodownik, M; Holloway, C

Abstract

Background and aim: Thermal discomfort often affects prosthesis wearers and could be addressed by increasing liner thermal
conductivity. This note explores a liner made from thermally conductive silicone and two additional alternative liner designs.
Technique: Thermally conductive silicone was used to create a conductive liner and a hybrid liner. Additionally, one with open elements was made. These were compared with a plain silicone liner and a no liner scenario. Scaled down liner prototypes were used due to the high-cost of the thermally conductive silicone. Temperature decay profiles were
collected by attaching thermistors to a heated liner phantom and used to evaluate scenarios.
Discussion: No scenario performed much better than the plain silicone liner. Implementation of passive solutions may be easier, but alternative liner materials are unlikely to affect dissipation enough to address thermal discomfort. Based on this work, future research efforts may be better spent developing active thermal discomfort solutions.
Clinical relevance Thermal discomfort can increase the probability of skin damage, reduce prosthesis satisfaction and,
ultimately, the quality of life. The prosthesis-wearing experience could be improved if thermal discomfort can be
addressed by technological improvements.

Citation

Williams, R., Washington, E., Miodownik, M., & Holloway, C. (2017). The effect of liner design and materials selection on prosthesis interface heat dissipation. Prosthetics and Orthotics International, 42(3), 275-279. https://doi.org/10.1177/0309364617729923

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 9, 2017
• Online Publication Date: Sep 14, 2017
• Publication Date: Sep 14, 2017
• Deposit Date: Oct 20, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 20, 2017
• Journal: Prosthetics and Orthotics International
• Print ISSN: 0309-3646
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Volume: 42
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 275-279
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0309364617729923
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0309364617729923
• Related Public URLs: http://journals.sagepub.com/home/poi
• Additional Information: Access Information : Version of Record © The International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics, 2017, available via Official URL above.