Every 30 seconds, a patient with diabetes is forced to amputate his leg due to illness. These patients often suffer from neuropathy and loss of sensation in the lower limbs, so the damage caused by inappropriate prosthesis cannot be detected, resulting in amputation. Canadian scientists recently showed in the journal Biological microfluidics of the American physical union that they have developed a new prosthetic limb using the flexible robot technology supporting microfluidics, which is expected to greatly reduce the skin ulcer and pain of amputees of ankles and knees. Prostheses commonly used in amputations of diabetes patients include fabric and silicone pads that can be added or removed to improve the fit. Amputees need to manually replace the pads, but neuropathy can lead to poor sensation, making it difficult and may cause more damage to the remaining limbs. Researchers at the University of Waterloo said that the typical silicon / fabric limb pad is not to create a new type of prosthetic socket, but is replaced by a single-layer pad, which integrates a soft fluid actuator as the interface layer. These actuators are designed to inflate the residual limb to different pressures according to its anatomical structure to reduce pain and prevent pressure ulcers. The research team developed a method to miniaturize the actuator. They designed a microfluidic chip with 10 integrated pneumatic valves to control each actuator. The whole system is controlled by a micro air pump and two solenoid valves that supply air to the microfluidic chip. The control box is small and light, and can be worn as part of the artificial limb. The research team included medical personnel with rich experience in prosthetic devices, who provided detailed data on the pressure required for the prosthetic socket. The team made extensive measurements of the contact pressure provided by each actuator and compared these with the pressure required for the working prosthesis. It is found that all 10 actuators can generate pressure within the required range, which indicates that the new equipment will work well in the actual application scenario. The research team plans to carry out further research, integrate the pressure sensor directly into the prosthetic pad, and may also use the newly launched knitted soft fabric containing pressure sensing materials. [chief editor's circle] When it comes to new prosthetics, people often think of those manipulators that have brain computer interface function and can sensitively complete various grasping movements. But in fact, the more commonly used artificial limb is the one mentioned in the article. However, the combination of machinery and body is not as easy as the outside world thinks. Patients will suffer from pain and skin ulcers or pressure sores will grow due to extrusion. Therefore, researchers applied the flexible robot technology to the new prosthetic limb. A micro-control chip with 10 integrated pneumatic valves can control it, and adjust different pressures according to the structure of the residual limb, so that the wearer of the prosthetic limb can be more comfortable. This is an innovation that really benefits a group of people. (outlook new era)