Breathable Residual-Limb Socket with Perforated Venting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional residual-limb socket systems trap heat and moisture, leading to discomfort and skin issues due to inadequate breathability, despite some liners having micro-pores that do not provide sufficient air exchange for evaporative cooling.
Innovation Solution
A breathable residual-limb socket system comprising an air-permeable textile liner sock with unidirectional and bidirectional stretch sections and a friction-interface material, along with a perforated socket that allows air exchange, enhancing evaporative cooling by allowing air to pass through the textile and the socket's fenestrations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional liners made of thick rubber, foam, or leather are used, then the liner provides durability and comfort, but heat and moisture are trapped creating a hot and sweaty microclimate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies porous materials by using a liner with micro-pores that allow air and moisture vapor to pass through. The liner is made from breathable materials that maintain structural integrity while providing thermal and moisture management, directly resolving the contradiction between durability and heat/moisture trapping.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If liners with micro-pores are used to improve breathability, then air permeability is enhanced, but the amount of air received is still insufficient for adequate evaporative cooling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the liner into multiple functional layers with different properties. The liner includes a micro-porous layer for breathability combined with moisture-wicking layers and cooling layers, allowing each layer to perform its specific function optimally to achieve sufficient evaporative cooling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining multiple materials with different properties in the liner construction. The liner integrates breathable micro-porous materials with moisture-wicking fabrics and cooling gel layers, creating a composite structure that achieves both breathability and effective evaporative cooling.
3Reliability
If a friction-interface material covers the entire internal surface of the liner, then secure attachment is improved, but air permeability and evaporative cooling are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by placing friction-interface materials only in specific strategic locations rather than covering the entire internal surface. The friction materials are positioned at key attachment points to provide secure holding while leaving the majority of the liner surface open for air permeability and evaporative cooling.
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 system provides improved ventilation and comfort by allowing air to permeate the liner sock and socket, reducing heat and moisture buildup, thereby alleviating skin issues and enhancing mobility and function of the residual limb.
Implementation Method 1
allows sweat to evaporate from the surface of the residual limb
Implementation Method 2
the friction-interface material contacts a surface of the residual limb
Data Source
AI summary
Breathable residual-limb system that admits air and allows sweat to evaporate from the surface of the residual limb. In an embodiment, the system comprises a liner sock to be worn on the residual limb, and comprising air-permeable textile forming a substantially cylindrical portion that is closed on a distal end and open on a proximal end and comprising an internal surface and an external surface. The liner sock further comprises a friction-interface material that covers only a portion of the internal surface of the air-permeable textile, such that, when worn on the residual limb, the friction-interface material contacts a surface of the residual limb, and an uncovered portion of the air-permeable textile which the friction-interface material does not cover allows air to pass between an external environment of the liner sock and the surface of the residual limb.