Improving prosthetic fitting for Veterans in rural areas using digital technology
Official title: Improving prosthetic provision in rural communities: limb scanning with caregiver assistance
Funded at VA Puget Sound Healthcare System · NIH-10897884 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at a new way to help Veterans with lower limb amputations in rural areas get better-fitting prosthetic sockets by using easy digital tools, so they don’t have to make so many trips to the clinic.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | VA Puget Sound Healthcare System NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | October 1, 2023 |
| Project end | September 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| NIH project number | 5I01RX004276-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10897884 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are Veterans with lower limb amputations living in rural areas who require new prosthetic sockets.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have lower limb amputations or those living in urban areas may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how to improve the process of fitting prosthetic sockets for Veterans with lower limb amputations who live in rural communities. It aims to determine if a helper can use simple digital tools to capture the shape of a residual limb, allowing for the fabrication of a prosthetic socket without the need for multiple clinic visits. By reducing travel burdens and potential exposure to health risks, this approach seeks to provide a well-fitting prosthesis that meets the standards of traditional methods. The study will compare the fit of sockets created using this new method against those made by professional prosthetists.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce the travel burden for Veterans in rural areas while ensuring they receive high-quality prosthetic care.
How similar studies have gone: While the approach of using digital technology for prosthetic fitting is innovative, similar studies have shown promise in improving access to care through remote assistance.
Where this research is happening
-
VA Puget Sound Healthcare System
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Klute, Glenn — VA Puget Sound Healthcare System
- Study coordinator: Klute, Glenn
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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.