Adjustable Prosthetic Seal System for Volume Fluctuations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing suspension liners for prosthetic sockets often fail to adequately accommodate volume fluctuations and anatomical irregularities, leading to discomfort and pressure marks on residual limbs, particularly for trans-tibial amputees due to their inability to conform effectively.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable seal system featuring a suspension liner with multiple seal bands and a seal component that can be placed along the liner's height, allowing for flexible positioning to avoid pressure points and accommodate shape changes, using a textile-based cover and polymeric materials for secure engagement and comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fixed seal component is used at a specific location on the liner, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but adaptability to volume fluctuations and anatomical irregularities deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The seal component is made adjustable and movable along the liner height, transitioning from a fixed static position to a dynamic reconfigurable position. This allows the seal to adapt to volume fluctuations and anatomical irregularities by repositioning along the liner, resolving the contradiction between maintaining reliable sealing and adapting to changing conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal system is divided into multiple seal bands located at different heights on the liner, with the seal component able to engage with different bands. This segmentation allows selective positioning to accommodate anatomical variations and volume changes while maintaining effective sealing at the chosen location.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the seal component is made adjustable and movable, then adaptability to anatomical irregularities is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The liner is equipped with multiple discrete seal bands at different heights, and the seal component can engage with any of these bands. This segmented approach provides adjustability and adaptability without requiring complex mechanisms, as the simplicity of moving between predefined engagement points maintains low device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The user can independently adjust the seal component position along the liner without requiring external assistance or complex adjustment mechanisms. The frictional engagement between the seal component and seal bands allows for simple, tool-free repositioning, maintaining ease of use despite enhanced adaptability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple seal bands are provided at different heights, then adaptability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The liner incorporates multiple seal bands at different heights, each capable of engaging with the seal component. These seal bands can be manufactured as integrated features during the liner molding process using polymeric materials, allowing customizable seal placement without significantly increasing manufacturing complexity through automation of the molding process.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The adjustable seal system provides enhanced comfort and skin protection by mitigating volume fluctuations and accommodating anatomical irregularities, reducing the effort required for donning and doffing, and improving rotational control and durability through customizable seal placement.
Implementation Method 1
The internal surface is arranged to frictionally engage at least one of the plurality of seal bands and secure on the outer surface of the liner body
Data Source
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Figure 5a~5b
AI summary
An adjustable seal system, seal component for use in the system, and method are provided for forming a sealing interface between a residual limb and a prosthetic socket. The seal component (300) is selectively placed over the outer surface (317) of a suspension liner (301) including a plurality of seal bands (305), which the seal component (300) may removably and securely engage.