Bone and skin movement inside prosthetic sockets for below-knee amputees
Official title: Quantifying Bone and Skin Movement in the Residual Limb-Socket Interface of Individuals with Transtibial Amputation Using Dynamic Stereo X-Ray
Funded at VA Medical Center · NIH-11457775 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project uses moving X-ray and CT-based 3D models to measure how bones, skin, and liners move inside the prosthetic socket of people with below-knee amputations during walking and other activities.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2022 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5I01RX003700-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11457775 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults with transtibial (below-knee) amputation who use a prosthetic socket and can tolerate CT and short X-ray imaging sessions while performing walking tasks.
✕Less likely to help
People with above-knee amputations, those who cannot undergo CT or X-ray (for example, pregnant individuals or those with contraindicated implants), or those not using a prosthetic socket are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
What this research studies
You would get a CT scan to create a 3D model of your residual limb, then do short imaging sessions with a special moving X-ray system while wearing your prosthesis during walking and functional tasks. The team will combine the CT models and biplanar X-ray video to track bone position and soft-tissue deformation with sub-millimeter precision. Over four years they will develop analytical tools to quantify those motions and how they relate to pain, gait changes, and socket fit. The findings are meant to guide better socket designs and clinical decisions to improve comfort and mobility.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify specific motion patterns that cause pain and socket problems, guiding improvements in socket fit and prosthetic design to increase comfort and mobility.
How similar studies have gone: Dynamic stereo X-ray has successfully measured bone motion in other orthopedic applications, but applying it to the in-socket residual limb dynamics is a newer and less-tested use of the method.
Where this research is happening
-
VA Medical Center
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Maikos, Jason — VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Maikos, Jason
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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This grant looks at how skin temperature and mechanical factors during walking affect tissue health and risk of sores in people with a leg amputation, especially those with diabetes.
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.