# Brasthesis Prototype for Women Veterans with Upper Limb Amputations

> **NIH VA I21** · JAMES A. HALEY VA MEDICAL CENTER · 2024 · —

## Abstract

Current traditional prosthetic chest harnessing worn by women Veterans with limb loss) is less than
optimal due to female anatomy. We know from the sports [1] and seat belt/airbag [2] literature that breast
tissue injuries can disrupt the blood flow to the breast resulting in swelling, significant blood loss,
hematoma, fat necrosis, and oil cyst hematoma. Injury to the mammary ducts can affect the future or
current flow of breast milk [3]. More commonly, smaller superficial arteries along with veins become
injured, leading to more localized injury and less serious bleeding and bruising. While there is no known
research on whether a prosthetic harness can cause injury to breast tissue, we know that frequent
wearing of tight clothing [4] can cause bruising, swelling, and thrombophlebitis. We have designed a bra
with incorporated prosthetic harness prototype for women Veterans with mid to short transhumeral,
shoulder, or interscapulothoracic amputation(s) that we have named Brasthesis (patent pending). The
purpose of the proposed project is to use a case series design to prove the concept of Brasthesis
prototype. The specific aims of this project are to: (1) Compare the satisfaction and function with
and comfort of Brasthesis with the traditional harness and (2) Use pressure mapping to compare
the interface pressure of Brasthesis with the traditional prosthesis. Five women with proximal upper
limb loss will be fit with Brasthesis using a procedure similar to the one we used for constructing our
prototype. The inclusion criteria are: (1) unilateral mid to short trans-humeral, shoulder, or interscapular-
thoracic unilateral amputation and (2) have an existing myoelectric or hybrid prosthetic limb that they used
or rejected/abandoned. The additional resources required to train a participant with no prosthetic
experience is judged beyond SPIRE resources/scope of this study. The exclusion criteria are: (1) open
wounds in the upper torso or extremities and (2) body-powered prosthetic users due to the dynamic
requirements of the harness. We will pursue Using Brasthesis with body powered prosthetics in a
subsequent study. Once the patient has provided written informed consent, two bras will be ordered. One
bra the patient will wear. The second bra will be deconstructed and reconstructed for individualized
suspensory harness strapping. At the time of Brasthesis fitting, baseline will be collected,
demographic and clinical data and satisfaction, function, and comfort outcomes
measures. After fitting, the participant will wear Brasthesis for four weeks. Participants
will be contacted weekly to track wearing time in days per week and hours per day (Aim 1). We will also
employ a Jawbone Up 24 activity tracker as a quantitative proxy of prosthesis wear time.
Pre to post ordinal change in wearing time, satisfaction, function, and comfort outcomes will be
analyzed using quantitative descriptive analyses. At the end of the wearing period, PI Winkler will con...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 11044975
- **Project number:** 5I21RX003851-03
- **Recipient organization:** JAMES A. HALEY VA MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Jeffrey T. Heckman
- **Activity code:** I21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** VA
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** —
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2022-04-01 → 2024-09-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11044975

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11044975, Brasthesis Prototype for Women Veterans with Upper Limb Amputations (5I21RX003851-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11044975. Licensed CC0.

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