Page 6 - TPE Prothèse Marylou, Mathis et Hugo

What is a prosthesis (to walk) ?

A prosthesis is an external sculpture which is made to replace a member which the person
has lost in an accident for example. A prosthesis has to be adapted to the body and all A
disabled person have to wear a prosthesis to walk before having a sport prosthesis to get
used to walk. A prosthesis is composed of a sleeve, a socket, a metal tube and a prosthetic
foot.

What is a sporty prosthesis ?

In France, 60% of people who have lost a member can do some sport after putting their
prosthesis. Athletics is one of the sport you can do after the amputation but you must have
some special prosthesis to run correctly without hurting yourself. This prosthesis are made to
give the maximum energy back after doing a step. It is why this prosthesis must be more
resistant, lighter and more flexible. Also, science must find the right material and the right
shape for it to be more performant. A sport prosthesis is composed of a sleeve, a socket and
a prosthetic foot in differents materials.

Nerves connexion prosthesis

Nowadays, it exists prostheses with nerve connexions. They are in development but they are
not on the market already.

What are elements composing a prosthesis?

● The sleeve

It is the part of the prosthesis which is directly in contact with the skin of disabled people.
A material with high capacity of comfort is required. Moreover it must go well on disabled
people's leg. To improve the performances of athletes it must be light. Also we must find an
elastic material which is easy to work on. The silicone is the most suitable material. It is a
polymer composed of monomer which can be associate with hundred of same molecules.
This monomer are linked to others like some proteins with covalent bonds.
However, the sleeve can be composed of urethane and copolymer.

Si : Silicium
O : Oxygène
R : Groupe alkyle