Design and 3D Printing of Lower Limb Prosthetic Socket *

The prosthetic socket is a crucial interface connecting the residual limb to the prosthetic device, significantly affecting force transmission and wearer comfort. This work presents a comprehensive framework for design, simulation, and fabrication of the prosthetic socket. A 3D model of the residual limb, including the skeleton model and skin contour, is reconstructed from CT scan data. Using this model, the prosthetic socket and liner are designed based on biomechanical principles. The interaction force between the residual limb and the prosthetic socket and liner is simulated via finite element analysis (FEA) when the body weight of a below-knee amputee exerts on the prosthetic socket. Finally, the prosthetic socket and residual limb are fabricated using additive manufacturing (AM) technology, and a soft prosthetic liner is made of ethylene-vinyl-acetate (EVA) polymer. Clinical trials on a below-knee amputee were conducted to preliminarily test the prosthetic socket’s performance.