David Sengeh: The sore problem of prosthetic limbs
Sierra Leone's Legacy and the Quest for Better Prosthetics
Background of Sierra Leone
- The speaker shares their origins in Sierra Leone, highlighting its beauty and rich resources, but also its dark history marked by a decade-long rebel war in the '90s.
- During the conflict, many atrocities occurred, including the amputation of approximately 8,000 individuals' limbs.
Personal Impact of War
- At age 12, the speaker experienced an attack that prompted a resolve to prevent their children from facing similar horrors.
- Witnessing loved ones recover from war-related injuries deeply affected them, particularly regarding amputees who struggled with prosthetic use.
Challenges with Conventional Prosthetics
- Many amputees in Sierra Leone avoided using prostheses due to painful and poorly fitting sockets.
- Traditional methods for creating prosthetic sockets often lead to discomfort and pressure sores, rendering them ineffective regardless of the quality of the prosthetic limb itself.
Innovative Solutions at MIT
- Inspired by a conversation with Professor Hugh Herr, the speaker embarked on research during their Ph.D. at MIT Media Lab to develop better-fitting prosthetic sockets.
- Utilizing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), they captured patients' anatomical shapes and applied finite element modeling to predict stress points effectively.
Advancements in Prosthetic Technology
- The research led to creating multi-material prosthetic sockets via 3D printing that alleviate pressure on sensitive areas.