Scientists at Saint Petersburg Electrotechnical University (SPbGETU "LETI") have developed the "Amputation BMI Calculator" – a mobile application for calculating the optimal prosthesis mass. This will help reduce the risk of gait disturbance and accelerate patient rehabilitation, the university's press service reported.
The solution helps to calculate the mass of the entire limb with a high level of accuracy, taking into account the amputated part, compare it with the mass of a healthy limb, and compensate for the resulting difference with the prosthesis mass.
Prosthesis mass is an important indicator for patient adaptation. Incorrect calculations can lead to body imbalance, gait pattern disturbance, and muscle atrophy. The SPbGETU "LETI" development eliminates these problems. It will be in demand among prosthetists, engineers of technical rehabilitation aids, and specialists in adaptive physical culture and sports.
Kristina-Gabriela Vakarenko, project manager for "Digital Medicine Systems and Technologies" at SPbGETU "LETI", said that the calculation algorithm was tested on 10 patients with amputated lower limbs using 3D volume scanning.
The volume of the preserved limb and the stump were measured. The masses of body parts were calculated based on volumes and average density.
The relative error was no more than 1% for the clinical cases considered, she concluded.
The "Amputation BMI Calculator" is created for Android OS. The application has already been published in the RuStore digital marketplace.