Andrew Nelson
Biomedical engineering
Hometown: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Graduation date: Spring 2019
FURI | Fall 2018
Active Temperature Managment for Transtibial Prosthetic Sockets
Transtibial amputations are rapidly increasing due to dysvascular complications associated with diabetes and 53% of amputees experience heat discomfort with their current prosthetic. Active temperature management inside prosthetic sockets, using thermally conductive metal and Peltier thermoelectric cooling modules, offers a rapid, solid-state, and low profile solution for fluctuating residual limb temperatures throughout the day. Using an Arduino feedback loop, small changes in temperature are detected and the appropriate thermoelectric cooling response is administered. The impact of this research increases the duration a prosthetic can be worn comfortably, boosting prosthetic use and overall quality of life.
Mentor: Jeffrey La Belle