FPN Program and Invitations

This week in ISM, I continued with my Final Presentation Night preparation by finalizing both the template and content for my program and invitations, creating an outline for my speech, and deciding my two volunteers to help me during the event. Previously, I had already made a first draft of the program, which we then revised and critiqued in class to check for mistakes and general appearance. As a result, I made a few corrections to the formatting and content in my final draft, which I will print and perform one final check on before mass-producing all my program brochures for FPN. For my invitations, I didn't make any major changes from my first draft, because I really liked the color scheme and information I had included previously. In class, we received a massive checklist with everything that we needed to accomplish before FPN, and I was shocked by just how extensive and detailed the number of tasks were. The majority of them are due on May 20th, which is the actual day of Final Presentation Night, but several are due in the upcoming weeks. With only three weeks remaining before FPN, I'm definitely starting to feel the pressure of keeping organized and staying on track with the busy schedule ahead of me. However, despite my current nerves, I know that all the knowledge and skills I have gained over the course of this year will help me share my amazing ISM experience at FPN. This upcoming week, I will create a mock video for my final speech, schedule a mentor visit at UT Southwestern, and update my display board from Research Showcase.

One More Month

This week in ISM, I had a phone call meeting with my mentor and updated my blog. During our phone call, Mr. Wilson and I discussed what else was left to build for my Final Product and the specific parts I used for each of the prosthetic legs. Because we are far ahead of schedule, I have time to make minor adjustments to each of the legs and understand how each suspension system would work as part of a full leg, rather than as an individual piece. Also, I am now able to focus more specifically on the other aspects of Final Presentation Night, and this includes writing and rehearsing my speech, updating my display board, creating invitations, and making a program brochure for the evening. As of right now, there is just over a month remaining before FPN, so I'm definitely starting to feel the pressure of having to accomplish so many different tasks at once. Even though the next few weeks are going to be challenging and difficult, I hope to make the most of this incredible opportunity and finish the year strong. I can't wait to share my ISM experience with my family and friends, and I know that all the hard work and effort I put in now will pay off in the end. This upcoming week, I will schedule another mentor visit at UT Southwestern, start writing my FPN speech, and finalize the template and content of both my FPN program brochure and invitations.

Pulling a Clear Test Socket

During my fifth mentor visit with Mr. Wilson, we finalized most of the characteristics of our hypothetical patient and pulled a clear test socket for the shuttle lock prosthetic leg. In our phone call meeting the week before, my mentor and I had revised our previous idea of designing two prosthetic legs: one for an above the knee patient and another for a below the knee patient.

To read my analysis, click here.

Casting a Plaster Model

In my fourth mentor visit, Mr. Wilson and I continued to work through the details for my Final Product by listing out all the possible options for the prosthetic leg. We started with the category of suspension systems, so I chose a variety of designs that could each be specialized for specific patient characteristics and the most valuable systems that I've learned about so far. I decided to include a suction, electronic vacuum, suspension sleeve, shuttle lock with a clear test socket, and a lanyard. 

To read my analysis, click here.

Assembling My Final Product

This week in ISM, I updated my portfolio and assembled the majority of both prosthetic legs during my mentor visit. First, I had to decide the approximate height and foot size of my patient, so that I could get the appropriate parts. I decided that the individual would be just over 6 feet with a 27 cm foot, and then my mentor and I used this information to select several models of foot attachments and other connecting pieces for the legs. As I built the first device, Mr. Wilson allowed me to first try and figure out which pieces were needed by myself before he gave me more information to lead me to the correct parts. In this way, I was able to really understand each step and incorporate critical thinking skills to build the legs by myself under my mentor's guidance. For the foot attachment, I selected a low-energy transfer model for the shuttle lock system and one more suitable for an active lifestyle for the vacuum, since the patient would need about a year to adjust to the amputation before returning fully to his prior activities. Then, I started to put each leg together, working from the foot attachment to the socket, since this method gave me a solid foundation to build upon. Lastly, I adjusted the foot on each socket to angle slightly outward, because Mr. Wilson told me that most people walk with their toes pointing outward. Through this entire process, I realized that the generic template for both the temporary and finalized prosthesis was essentially the same. The main differences were the type of suspension system used and style of connecting parts, since I did have to modify the lengths of pylons to maintain the same distance from the bottom of the foot to the knee on both devices. This upcoming week, I will create my FPN guest list and write another Evidence of Learning.

3D Printing Prosthetics

This week in ISM, I had another phone call meeting with my mentor and created the rough draft of my FPN program brochure. In the phone call, my mentor and I discussed possible changes that could be made to the prosthetic legs after we finished putting them together and the future of this field. We decided that the biggest changes would be made to the foot attachments, pylon, and socket, since these can vary based off the patient's height, weight, and activity level. Also, we'll most likely add minor details to our current patient description, so that specific aspects of each leg are justified by patient characteristics. Another important topic we covered in this meeting was the role of 3D printing and osseointegration in the future. I learned that the greatest weakness for 3D printing prosthetic legs is currently the reduced durability of the materials. As a result, each device must be replaced more frequently and even though the cost per leg is cheaper, having to get a new prosthesis more often significantly impairs the purpose behind 3D printing. In regards to osseointegration, it appears that its implementation within the United States is still in its initial phases. This is most likely due to the fact that this procedure is limited to a very specific patient type, because patients must have strong bones and be willing to undergo surgery as well. However, as this technique is researched in greater depth and fine-tuned, I believe that osseointegration has the potential to become the standard for prosthetic devices, rendering the use of a socket obsolete. This upcoming week, I have scheduled a mentor visit at UT Southwestern, and I plan on assembling both prosthetic legs for my Final Product.