Prosthetic Sock Relieves Patients under Pressure
From: Medical Device Link - 06/2008
By: Maria Fontanazza

A student at the University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia) has developed a
prosthetic sock that relieves and redistributes pressure for below-knee
amputees. 

...

The device has a sensor, a microprocessor, a drive circuit, and dielectric
elastomers, which are all connected via circuitry components. The dielectric
elastomers are a special type of rubber that changes when voltage is placed
across the material.  

A sensor is placed in strategic areas where pressure accumulates in the limb.
It sends information to a small processor located outside of the sock. Once a
certain pressure threshold is reached, the sensor sends voltage to a drive
circuit to activate the elastomers. As the voltage is placed across the
elastomers, they expand and contract.  

Read the entire article at:
http://www.devicelink.com/mddi/archive/08/06/008.html

Links:
Chrysta Irolla
http://www.makinghistory.upenn.edu/node/114

Prosthetic Accessory Wins Top Prize
http://www.oandp.com/edge/issues/articles/NEWS_2008-04-17_01.asp