Adjustable Prosthetic Socket Wall Segmentation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Prosthetic sockets for lower limb prostheses often fail to accommodate variations in stump size and shape over time, requiring frequent redesign and replacement, which is inefficient and uncomfortable for the user.
Innovation Solution
A prosthetic socket with an adjustable inner side wall mechanism, comprising movable wall portions and a connecting member, allows for manual adjustment to match the changing size and shape of the stump, ensuring a secure and comfortable fit without the need for new sockets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a prosthetic socket is designed with a fixed inner side wall to match the stump anatomy, then the fit stability is improved, but the adaptability to stump size variations over time deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The inner side wall is divided into multiple movable wall portions that can adjust their positions relative to each other. This dynamic structure allows the socket to adapt to changing stump dimensions while maintaining stable contact through the ability to reconfigure the wall portions' positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner side wall is segmented into multiple independent wall portions rather than being a single fixed structure. This segmentation enables each portion to move and adjust independently, providing both stability through multiple contact points and adaptability through reconfigurable geometry.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a new socket is manufactured to accommodate stump size changes, then the adaptability is improved, but the loss of time and manufacturing complexity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The socket incorporates adjustable wall portions that can be reconfigured in situ to match new stump dimensions, eliminating the need for time-consuming manufacturing and replacement of entire sockets. The dynamic adjustment mechanism provides immediate adaptation without external intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The socket performs self-adjustment through its movable wall portions that can be repositioned to accommodate stump changes. This self-service capability removes the need for professional redesign and replacement, saving significant time and resources.
3Device complexity
If the inner side wall is made as a single fixed piece, then the device complexity is reduced, but the adaptability to varying stump shapes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The inner side wall is divided into multiple wall portions that maintain a relatively simple individual structure but gain collective adaptability through their ability to move relative to each other. This segmentation provides shape adaptation without significantly increasing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The wall portions are designed with simple movable connections that allow geometric reconfiguration. The dynamic capability is achieved through straightforward mechanical joints rather than complex mechanisms, maintaining simplicity while enabling shape adaptation.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Prosthetic socket arranged for connection to a lower limb prosthesis, wherein the prosthetic socket comprises a receptacle for receiving a stump of a patient, wherein the receptacle comprises a bottom for receiving a distal end of the stump and an inner side wall for at least partially enclosing said stump, wherein the inner side wall is defined by a plurality of wall portions and wherein the prosthetic socket comprises an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the relative position of at least two of the wall portions.