| Title: | Bioinspired design of 3D-printed cellular metamaterial prosthetic liners for enhanced comfort and stability |
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| Authors: | ID Plesec, Vasja (Author)
ID Harih, Gregor (Author) |
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| Files: |  biomimetics-09-00540.pdf (8,88 MB)
MD5: B8519A99CECDF6BECFF509861BCD0E27
 https://www.mdpi.com/2313-7673/9/9/540
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| Language: | English |
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| Work type: | Article |
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| Typology: | 1.01 - Original Scientific Article |
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| Organization: | FS - Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
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| Abstract: | Traditional prosthetic liners are often limited in customization due to constraints in manufacturing processes and materials. Typically made from non-compressible elastomers, these liners
can cause discomfort through uneven contact pressures and inadequate adaptation to the complex
shape of the residual limb. This study explores the development of bioinspired cellular metamaterial
prosthetic liners, designed using additive manufacturing techniques to improve comfort by reducing
contact pressure and redistributing deformation at the limb–prosthesis interface. The gyroid unit
cell was selected due to its favorable isotropic properties, ease of manufacturing, and ability to
distribute loads efficiently. Following the initial unit cell identification analysis, the results from the
uniaxial compression test on the metamaterial cellular samples were used to develop a multilinear
material model, approximating the response of the metamaterial structure. Finite Element Analysis
(FEA) using a previously developed generic limb–liner–socket model was employed to simulate
and compare the biomechanical behavior of these novel liners against conventional silicone liners,
focusing on key parameters such as peak contact pressure and liner deformation during donning,
heel strike, and the push-off phase of the gait cycle. The results showed that while silicone liners
provide good overall contact pressure reduction, cellular liners offer superior customization and
performance optimization. The soft cellular liner significantly reduced peak contact pressure during
donning compared to silicone liners but exhibited higher deformation, making it more suitable for
sedentary individuals. In contrast, medium and hard cellular liners outperformed silicone liners for
active individuals by reducing both contact pressure and deformation during dynamic gait phases,
thereby enhancing stability. Specifically, a medium-density liner (10% infill) balanced contact pressure
reduction with low deformation, offering a balance of comfort and stability. The hard cellular liner,
ideal for high-impact activities, provided superior shape retention and support with lower liner
deformation and comparable contact pressures to silicone liners. The results show that customizable
stiffness in cellular metamaterial liners enables personalized design to address individual needs,
whether focusing on comfort, stability, or both. These findings suggest that 3D-printed metamaterial
liners could be a promising alternative to traditional prosthetic materials, warranting further research
and clinical validation |
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| Keywords: | bioinspired design, metamaterial model, cellular structure, additive manufacturing, lower-limb prosthetic, 3D printing, finite element method |
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| Publication status: | Published |
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| Publication version: | Version of Record |
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| Submitted for review: | 29.08.2024 |
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| Article acceptance date: | 04.09.2024 |
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| Publication date: | 06.09.2024 |
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| Publisher: | MDPI |
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| Year of publishing: | 2024 |
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| Number of pages: | 21 str. |
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| Numbering: | Vol. 9, iss. 9, [article no.] 540 |
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| PID: | 20.500.12556/DKUM-90752  |
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| UDC: | 004.94:615.477.2 |
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| ISSN on article: | 2313-7673 |
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| COBISS.SI-ID: | 207731203 |
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| DOI: | 10.3390/biomimetics9090540 |
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| Publication date in DKUM: | 19.09.2024 |
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| Views: | 0 |
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| Downloads: | 318 |
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| Metadata: |    |
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| Categories: | Misc.
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