Adjustable Prosthetic Socket With Telescopic Shell Segments

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional prosthetic sockets fail to adequately accommodate shape and volume fluctuations of residual limbs, leading to discomfort, pain, and soft tissue breakdown due to poor force distribution and inadequate support and suspension.

Innovation Solution

An adjustable socket system with radially adjustable shell components and a tightening system that allows for customizable fit and support, featuring elongate medial and lateral supports that can pivot or bend to accommodate different limb shapes and sizes, and a shell component with adjustable length to ensure proper fit and pressure distribution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional rigid sockets with uniform shape are used, then the socket structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the socket cannot accommodate shape and volume fluctuations of the residual limb, causing discomfort and poor force distribution

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccommodation of shape and volume fluctuationsVSAvoidsocket structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The socket incorporates adjustable components including telescopic leg length adjustment mechanisms, rotatable joint elements, and flexible shell segments that allow the rigid socket structure to dynamically adapt to shape and volume fluctuations of the residual limb, enabling customization without requiring multiple different socket designs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The socket is divided into multiple adjustable segments including telescopic sections for length adjustment, rotatable joint components, and flexible shell segments that can be independently positioned to accommodate varying limb shapes and volumes, allowing localized adaptation while maintaining overall structural integrity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If adjustable socket components are added to accommodate shape fluctuations, then adaptability improves, but force distribution becomes poor causing pressure concentration on certain areas

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadjustability for shape and volume fluctuationsVSAvoidpressure concentration and force distribution

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Different regions of the socket are designed with different levels of flexibility and adjustability - flexible shell segments in areas requiring adaptation to shape changes, while maintaining rigid load-bearing structures in areas requiring stable force distribution, ensuring both adaptability and proper force distribution simultaneously

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The socket allows adjustment of multiple parameters including leg length, joint angles, and shell segment positioning to optimize both the adaptability to limb shape and the distribution of forces across the residual limb surface, preventing pressure concentration through coordinated parameter optimization

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple interchangeable components are provided for different limb sizes, then adaptability improves, but device complexity and inventory requirements increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefit for different limb sizes and shapesVSAvoidinventory of interchangeable parts

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The socket employs universal adjustment mechanisms including telescopic sections with continuous length adjustment, rotatable joints with multiple degree-of-freedom, and flexible shell segments that can be positioned in various configurations, allowing a single socket design to serve multiple limb sizes and shapes without requiring separate components for each case

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Stability of the object's composition

If conventional sockets are made to provide firm connection and support, then stability improves, but the socket becomes bulky and cumbersome to wear

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection and support stabilityVSAvoidease of donning and wearing comfort

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The socket incorporates collapsible and telescopic mechanisms that allow the structure to compact during donning for ease of insertion, then expand and lock into a stable configuration once the limb is positioned, providing both ease of operation and structural stability without requiring a permanently bulky design

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3576683B1Adjustable socket system

Publication Date: 2023.05.10 OSSUR ICELAND EHF

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Figure 3A~4B
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AI summary

An adjustable socket system (100) includes a base (102), longitudinal supports (104) connected to the base (102) and extending along a longitudinal axis (116), and shell components (106) operatively connected to the longitudinal supports (104) and defining a receiving volume (110) adapted to receive a residual limb. The adjustable socket system (100) is radially expandable between open and closed configurations. The shell components (106) include a first shell component (122) having distal and proximal parts (130, 132) that are longitudinally displaceable with respect to one another such that a length of the first shell component (122) is adjustable between a first length (L1) and a second length (L2) different than the first length (L1).