Prosthetics and Orthotics PGRs
Mick Prince: Trans-radial socket coupling: problems and solutions.
This PhD contributes to the literature on the assessment of socket fit in upper-limb prosthetics, including a method to characterise socket-limb coupling. It also proposes potential solutions to problems associated with poor socket fit, including a design of an electrode housing for use with myoelectric-controlled prosthetic devices. Supervisory Team: Prof Laurence Kenney and Prof. Dave Howard
Nicolaas Pickard: The design, evaluation and application of methods for measuring upper limb prosthetic socket coupling.
This PhD builds directly on the PhD of Mick Prince. The study further develops methods for assessing upper limb socket-limb coupling, and will explore the impact of socket adjustability on socket function and comfort. Supervisory Team: Prof Laurence Kenney and Dr Vikranth Nagaraja.
Lesley Davidson: Access to prosthesis repairs/maintenance and impacts on activity, psychological wellbeing and embodiment.
Levels of dissatisfaction and outright rejection of upper limb prostheses remain stubbornly high, despite decades of R&D effort. This PhD explores the role that access to prosthesis repairs and maintenance guidance/advice may play in user (dis)satisfaction/rejection, using a number of different approaches. Supervisory Team: Prof Laurence Kenney and Adam Galpin (External advisor: Dr Maggie Donovan-Hall and Dr Alix Chadwell, University of Southampton).
Martha Mulerwa: Development of a design specification for a passive adjustable wrist prosthesis suitable for persons with upper limb absence in low-and-middle income settings.
The vast majority of prosthetic designs come from labs or companies based in high resource settings. This PhD examines the requirements for a passive adjustable prosthetic wrist, for persons with upper limb absence in lower and middle income settings. Supervisory Team: Prof Laurence Kenney, Dr Sibylle Thies and Dr Vikranth Nagaraja.
Mike Baldock: Evaluating the functional properties of patient adjustable lower-limb prostheses: developing a novel residuum-socket interface model.
Using developed motion capture and finite element methods, this PhD evaluates adjustable socket designs across coupling, comfort, and user stability to explore the influence key interface properties have on performance. Supervisory Team: Prof Laurence Kenney, Dr Samantha Curtin and Dr Vikranth Nagaraja (External Advisor: Dr Niamh Gill, English Institute of Sport).
Helen Locke: The role and design of objects and environments in the lives of upper-limb prosthesis users.
This PhD aims to employ a range of observational and qualitative methods to assess how prosthesis users interact with real-world environments and objects. The information gained will be used to facilitate participatory design activities focused on the design of objects and environments. Supervisory Team: Adam Galpin and Prof Laurence Kenney (External Advisor: Dr Maggie Donovan-Hall, University of Southampton).
Paddy Townsend: Novel affordable light-weight underactuated biomimetic multi-DOF prosthetic hands.
A consistently reported concern raised by users is the weight of powered prostheses. In this PhD theoretical and experimental approaches will be applied to better understand the mechanism requirements. Novel solutions for multi-DOF prosthetic hands which can be operated with the minimum number of actuators will be developed. Supervisory Team: Dr Guowu Wei and Prof Laurence Kenney.
Sisary Kheng: Sustainable Prosthetics: Cambodia’s Path Forward.
Sisary Kheng is the Country Director of Exceed Cambodia and has been actively involved in the development of sustainable prosthetic services in Cambodia. Exceed Cambodia is an international NGO that focuses on providing prosthetic services to victims of conflict. Supervisory Team: Prof Malcolm Granat (External Advisors: Dr Cathy Ure Carson Harte (Exceed Worldwide), Carson Harte (Exceed Worldwide), Cheryl Metcal (University of Southampton)).