A PC-based ultrasound scanning system for imaging a residual limb

In lower limb prosthetic socket design, lack of information about the internal structure of the residual limb often contribute to the difficulties in achieving the desired weight bearing characteristics of the prosthesis. The authors describe a PC-based ultrasound scanning system which uses compound imaging technique to reconstruct cross sectional images of the limb, showing bones and other soft tissues within the limb. With such a visualization of the internal structure, a prosthetist is able to perform socket design more objectively and consistently. The relatively low cost and non-invasive nature of the system should make it a practical tool for prosthetic socket design