Elements of a prescriptive and adaptive prosthesis development service framework

Abstract

Amputees face a number of challenges when acquiring and using a prosthesis, with major issues being the cost of the device, the time it takes for their custom prosthesis to be developed and delivered, as well as the challenges they face to get it regularly serviced and maintained. The other stakeholders involved, including the prosthetists and standard systems manufacturers, have a difficulty to collectively handle so many issues that occur to the different amputees. To address these challenges, our research reported in this paper contributes an approach to how these can be handled, through a Prescriptive approach entitled Adaptive Prosthetic Life-Cycle Service System (adProLiSS) Framework. Unlike other product service systems, adProLiSS is designed to explicitly involve and serve the amputee and their evolving needs during different phases throughout the amputee's life. This impacts how a prosthetic device needs to be designed to ensure a smoother interaction between the amputee and the device. The adProLiSS preliminary evaluation shows an improvement by which amputees can be efficiently provided with a prosthesis that evolves with their changing needs and aspirations, this fostering a longer term 'patient-centred care' service.