Adjustable Prosthetic Seal System for Volume Fluctuations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing suspension liners for prosthetic sockets often fail to adequately conform to the user's anatomy, leading to discomfort and pressure marks due to insufficient tolerance of volume fluctuations and irregular shapes, particularly in trans-tibial amputees.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable seal system with seal components that can be placed along the height of the liner body, featuring seal bands and a textile sleeve for anatomical conformity, allowing for flexible placement to avoid pressure points and accommodate shape changes, and providing a secure, airtight seal with the socket.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed seal system is used in the liner, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but it cannot accommodate anatomical variations and volume fluctuations, leading to discomfort and pressure marks
Solution Approach 1:
The seal system is divided into multiple discrete seal components that can be independently positioned along the liner height. Each seal component can be placed at different locations to accommodate varying anatomical shapes and volume fluctuations, transforming a fixed monolithic seal into a segmented, adaptable system.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal system transitions from a fixed configuration to a dynamic, adjustable configuration. The seal components can be repositioned along the liner body to adapt to changing anatomical conditions, allowing the system to respond dynamically to user needs and anatomical variations.
2Reliability
If the seal component is made rigid to provide a secure seal, then sealing reliability is improved, but comfort and skin protection are reduced due to pressure points
Solution Approach 1:
Different portions of the seal system have different properties - the seal components themselves provide rigid sealing surfaces for reliable sealing, while the textile sleeve provides soft, compliant contact with the skin. This local differentiation allows the system to achieve both sealing reliability and skin comfort simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The textile sleeve acts as an intermediary between the rigid seal components and the user's skin. It distributes the contact pressure evenly across the skin surface, preventing pressure marks while allowing the rigid seal components to maintain their sealing function.
3Reliability
If multiple seal bands are added to the liner to improve sealing, then sealing reliability is enhanced, but the device complexity and difficulty of manufacture increase
Solution Approach 1:
The seal functionality is extracted from the liner body and implemented as separate, removable seal components. This allows the liner to be manufactured without complex integrated seal structures, simplifying production while maintaining reliable sealing through the separate seal components that can be added as needed.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the seal component is made adjustable to accommodate volume fluctuations, then adaptability is improved, but the ease of operation for donning and doffing is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of making the entire seal system adjustable and complex, the solution uses a limited number of seal components at strategic locations that provide sufficient adaptability for volume fluctuations. This partial adjustment approach maintains ease of operation while achieving the necessary adaptability.
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 enhances comfort and skin protection by accommodating anatomical variations, reducing pressure marks, and improving the reliability of suspension, while allowing for easier donning and doffing of the prosthetic liner.
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
Implementation Method 2
Upon application of a pulling force on the liner relative to the socket, suction is created in the distal end of the socket tending to retain the liner within the socket
Data Source
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 is selectively placed over the outer surface of a suspension liner including a plurality of seal bands, which the seal component may removably and securely engage.