Improving prosthetic fitting in rural areas with remote limb scanning
Official title: Improving prosthetic provision in rural communities: limb scanning with caregiver assistance
Funded at VA Puget Sound Healthcare System · NIH-11599785 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study tests whether a helper can remotely capture limb shape with affordable digital tools to create a well-fitting prosthetic socket, reducing travel for rural Veterans.
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, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2027 |
| NIH project number | 5I01RX004276-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11599785 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Veterans with a lower-limb amputation who require a new prosthetic socket and live in rural or remote areas.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals who already have easy access to prosthetic clinics or do not need a new socket may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project asks if a non-professional helper, guided remotely, can use simple digital devices to capture the shape of a residual limb. The goal is to fabricate a socket that fits as well as the traditional hand-cast method, potentially cutting down clinic visits and travel. Veterans in rural areas could benefit from a faster, more convenient pathway to a comfortable prosthesis. The study will compare two socket fabrication methods by patient-reported comfort and fit outcomes. Results could reshape how prosthetics are provided to remote communities.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, Veterans in rural areas could receive well-fitting sockets with fewer trips to clinics.
How similar studies have gone: Previous approaches show promise for remote limb scanning, but this study tests a novel helper-assisted method.
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.