# The Advancement of a New Variable-Compliance Socket and Frame System forTransradial Amputees to Optimize Socket Fit and Upper Limb Function

> **NIH VA I01** · VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION · 2024 · —

## Abstract

According to the DoD/VA Extremity Amputation Center of Excellence there were about 3,000
Veterans with transradial amputations enrolled for VA Healthcare in FY21. Veterans with arm
amputations from Post-911 conflicts number just over 200, and because the total number of
Veterans missing arms is demographically small, this very fact has limited innovation. Prosthetic
arms are often uncomfortable which is generally attributable to the fit and comfort of sockets and
harnesses and are not worn primarily for this reason. This research seeks to validate and improve
upon preliminary results from an innovative new transradial socket and harness textile-based
design inspired by advanced athletic shoe technology. We propose to employ a participatory action
design and engineering (PADE) process for the proposed K-Socket-Harness (KSH) to include
three basic phases: (1) Advance the current KSH design for manufacture and to be suitable for a
broader population of Veterans with transradial amputations; (2) Evaluate the improved KSH
design(s) with a selection of experienced Veterans with a range of different lengths and anatomies
of transradial amputations and revise design based on their guidance; (3) Enroll a larger cohort to
compare the improved KSH design to Veteran’s current prosthetic device through a series of
activities designed to illicit differences if they exist. In Phases 1-3, we will recruit 5 experienced
Veterans with transradial arm amputations to provide guidance and to assist with the design and
development. In Phase - 3, We will recruit an additional 20 Veterans with transradial arm
amputations to undergo a series of evaluative tests. We will recruit 5 Certified Prosthetists with at
least 5-years of experience working with Veterans with transradial arm amputations to provide
guidance and to assist with the design and development. If successful, the resulting KSH will
provide an alternative for Veterans or augment current devices provided to improve function and
reduce risk of injury. This study will employ an iterative PADE process involving input from
Veterans with disabilities at various stages to inform the development and acceptance of KSH.
KSH will be tested for usability and feasibility for improving comfort, function, acceptance, and
range of motion. Experienced end-user Veterans and Clinical staff will be engaged to assist with
design, develop the fitting process. Acceptance of prosthetic arms has long been a problem for
clinical prosthetics, and recent studies indicate that recent advancements have done little to
improve usage. Athletic footwear has evolved to accomplish many of the same difficult, diverse,
and even contradictory tasks that face prosthetic upper limb socket design, and footwear design
and production has evolved remarkably. With sufficient understanding of both shoe technology
and prosthetic requirements, we can accrue to upper-limb prosthetics all the benefits of the
modern materials and design/manufacturing techniques...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10747498
- **Project number:** 1I01RX004257-01A2
- **Recipient organization:** VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
- **Principal Investigator:** RORY A. COOPER
- **Activity code:** I01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** VA
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** —
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2023-11-01 → 2027-10-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10747498

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10747498, The Advancement of a New Variable-Compliance Socket and Frame System forTransradial Amputees to Optimize Socket Fit and Upper Limb Function (1I01RX004257-01A2). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10747498. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*