Julian Hoch, BCIT MAKE+ Group & Barber Prosthetics Clinic

When choosing which prosthetic foot to choose for a patient, there are several factors to consider. This randomized, double-blinded study looked at the effects of modifying prosthetic foot parameters on gait parameters. The effects were studied by collecting both biomechanics data in a motion capture laboratory at BCIT as well as by using routine clinical data collection tools (including the 2 Minute Walk Test and G-Walk) and by gathering the participants’ subjective perception of the foot.

P&O Student Brittany Pousett from BCIT

A pilot study conducted with two people with transtibial amputations found that the use of a torsion adaptor considerably decreased the axial moments by allowing increased axial rotation while completing a series of tasks of daily living.

P&O Students Anna Kruithof and Jasmine Slomp from BCIT

Students in the P&O program at BCIT recognized the need to have a digital tool in order to support the use of outcome measures in practice and Barber Prosthetics could not agree more! They conducted a Canada-wide survey and a focus group to delve into this topic.

P&O Student Michael Prystai from BCIT

Studies have found that increased heat and sweat production in prosthetic sockets leads to decreased comfort for people with amputations. This study investigated the development of a user-friendly prosthetic integrated system that allowed the wearer to directly control the temperature at the skin-socket interface.

Barber Prosthetics & Caleb Waldman, Sadul Bombuwala, Shawna Naderi, and Vedanth Meleveetil, Integrated Engineering Students from UBC

Vertical Fabrication Jigs (VFJs) are tools that are used in the fabrication of prostheses. One of the challenges we face on the technical side of our clinic is the limitation in fabrication due to the number jigs we have room for. We partnered with UBC Integrated Engineering Students to determine if we could develop a solution to this bottleneck in our fabrication process.

P&O Student Jenna Barnert from BCIT

This study compared the ability of a split-toe prosthetic foot to a solid-keel to adapt to a lateral incline and identified the resulting effects on the body. Between these two feet, there were no difference in level ground walking, however on slopes where the prosthesis was uphill, the results suggested the split-keel conformed better and was preferred by participants.

P&O Students Leah Campbell and Adrial Lau from BCIT as well as Ernie Janzen & Silvia Raschke from BCIT MAKE+

3D printing is relatively new to prosthetics and there is little research showing the strength of 3D printed sockets. Manipulating the settings on a 3D printer can have a significant impact on the resulting 3D printed socket. These impacts can include the time it takes to print a socket, the strength of the socket, the weight of the socket, and many more. This project investigated how changing the infill percentage (the percentage of material between the internal and external socket walls) affected the strength of 3D printed transtibial sockets. We found that the infill percentage did not affect the structural strength of the 3D printed sockets we made.

P&O Students Nicholas Antoniuk and Kimberly Lieuwen from BCIT

The primary purpose of this study was to explore perceptions of informal caregivers of persons with lower limb amputation to identify which resources were helpful in managing their own self-care. A secondary purpose was to identify resources that would help enhance the quality of care caregivers provide to persons with amputation.