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CompletedNCT00167570Updated Apr 26, 2017

Long Term Clinical Evaluation of SLS Transtibial Sockets

An observational study in Trauma and Diabetes, sponsored by The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. Completed at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2017-04-26.

Sponsored by The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio · Observational

Study type
Observational
Enrollment
11
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The overall long-term goal of this project is the development of a clinically practical system for rapid prosthetic limb provision that integrates computer-aided design with solid freeform fabrication techniques. This proposal builds on our previous successful demonstration of the feasibility of SFF socket fabrication and will address several key issues that underlie its clinical viability. The specific objectives of the proposed work are:

  1. To develop improved designs for SFF transtibial prosthetic sockets that allow the use of industry standard pylon mounts and incorporate variable compliance elements.
  2. Determine the clinical effectiveness of variable wall compliance elements in enhancing the comfort and fit of transtibial prosthetic sockets.
  3. Determine the durability and functionality of SFF sockets during extended clinical use.

These objectives will be met over a three-year period. The initial phase of the proposed work will use an iterative engineering design - modeling - evaluation process to develop variable compliance elements and an industry standard pylon mount adapter. During the second phase of the proposed work, clinical evaluations of SFF prosthetic sockets will be studied. The effectiveness of variable compliant elements in enhancing comfort and fit will be determined using a within subject case comparison study of SFF sockets with conventional laminated sockets. Durability of SFF sockets that incorporate an industry standard pylon mounting system will be determined during a 12-month clinical field trial.

Read the detailed description

Successful rehabilitation for the majority of lower extremity amputees includes prosthetic limb fitting and training. Critical to the success of prosthetic fitting is a comfortable, well fitting socket. Accomplishing this remains a clinical challenge with residual limb pain and socket discomfort affecting 20-55% of lower limb amputees. Achieving an acceptable socket fit using conventional prosthetic techniques requires individual custom molding and fabrication in a labor intensive, costly process. Alternative methods of fabricating prosthetic sockets that can improve efficiency in prosthetic provision, enhance comfort and fit, or reduce cost are needed to ensure the continued optimal rehabilitation of the amputee. This project will continue the development of a new promising method of socket fabrication using solid freeform fabrication (SFF) based on selective laser sintering (SLS) technology. SFF allows the direct manufacture of a prosthetic socket without the intermediate molds and laminating process required with conventional techniques.

The overall long-term goal of this project is the development of a clinically practical system for rapid prosthetic limb provision that integrates computer-aided design with solid freeform fabrication techniques. This proposal builds on our previous successful demonstration of the feasibility of SFF socket fabrication and will address several key issues that underlie its clinical viability. The specific objectives of the proposed work are:

  1. To develop improved designs for SFF transtibial prosthetic sockets that allow the use of industry standard pylon mounts and incorporate variable compliance elements.
  2. Determine the clinical effectiveness of variable wall compliance elements in enhancing the comfort and fit of transtibial prosthetic sockets.
  3. Determine the durability and functionality of SFF sockets during extended clinical use.

These objectives will be met over a three-year period. The initial phase of the proposed work will use an iterative engineering design - modeling - evaluation process to develop variable compliance elements and an industry standard pylon mount adapter. During the second phase of the proposed work, clinical evaluations of SFF prosthetic sockets will be studied. The effectiveness of variable compliant elements in enhancing comfort and fit will be determined using a within subject case comparison study of SFF sockets with conventional laminated sockets. Durability of SFF sockets that incorporate an industry standard pylon mounting system will be determined during a 12-month clinical field trial.

02

Conditions studied

  • Trauma
  • Diabetes

Keywords

  • Artificial Limbs
  • Amputees
  • Computer-Aided Design
03

In context

Lead sponsor

The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio is the lead sponsor of 435 studies on the registry; 88 are open to participants now.

Of its 62 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 31 (50%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

All subjects will be lower extremity amputees of at least one year duration and are 18 years of age or older.

They must meet the Medicare Functional Classification Level K2 or K3 class for prosthetic use (unlimited household or limited community level ambulator).

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

There must be no current stump wounds or breakdown or a history of repeated skin breakdown with adequately fitting prostheses.

05

Study design

Enrollment
11 participants (actual)
Patient registry
No

Interventions

  • DeviceProsthetic socket fabricated using selective laser sintering
06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Durability during household and community mobility.

    Subjects were followed for up to 12 months in 3 months intervals for examination of the physical condition of socket and for subject gait assessment with socket

    Time frame: Up to 12 months

Secondary outcomes

  1. User perceptions of comfort, fit, and function.

    Subjects were followed up at 3 month intervals and assessed for comfort fit and function

    Time frame: Up to 12 months

07

Study locations

1 site
  • South Texas Veterans Healthcare System
    San Antonio, Texas 78229, United States
08

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Apr 26, 2017, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
09

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT00167570
Lead sponsor
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Sep 14, 2005
Start date
Apr 2003
Primary completion
Jul 2011
Completion
Jul 2011
Last update
Apr 26, 2017

Study contacts

Nicolas Walsh, MD
principal investigator · The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is completed, as verified in Sep 2012. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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