Disarticulated Compression Socket for Residual Limb Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional prosthetic sockets fail to accommodate shape and volume fluctuations in residual limbs, leading to discomfort, pain, and destabilization due to their fixed design, which does not account for changes caused by factors like edema, muscle atrophy, or activity.
Innovation Solution
A disarticulated compression socket with adjustable components, such as disarticulated compression inserts responsive to compression actuators, that can expand or contract to securely fit the residual limb, providing anatomically directed compression and accommodating soft tissue expansion through lateral release channels and sensors for automatic modulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed or static prosthetic socket is used, then the socket provides stable support and structural integrity, but it cannot accommodate shape and volume fluctuations of the residual limb
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by transforming the static socket structure into a dynamic system with adjustable components. The socket includes expandable and compressible elements that can change volume in response to residual limb fluctuations, allowing the socket to adapt its internal volume while maintaining external structural integrity. This resolves the contradiction by enabling adaptability without requiring complete structural redesign.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the socket into multiple functional components including a fixed outer shell and adjustable inner elements. The compression inserts and expansion elements are separate components that can be independently adjusted, allowing the socket to accommodate volume changes while maintaining overall structural stability. This segmentation enables adaptability without proportionally increasing overall complexity.
2Ease of operation
If traditional static sockets are used, then manufacturing is simpler and cost is lower, but they cause discomfort and pain due to inability to accommodate limb changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by incorporating elements that can alter their physical dimensions (volume, compression ratio) in response to residual limb changes. The expansion elements and compression inserts can change their dimensional parameters to match varying limb dimensions, providing continuous comfort and security of fit without requiring complete socket remolding.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a rigid socket design is used, then mechanical load transfer is efficient, but it does not allow for circulation and physiological changes in the residual limb
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the rigidity and flexibility properties of different socket regions. The outer shell maintains high rigidity for structural support and load transfer, while inner elements like compression inserts and expansion elements provide localized flexibility to accommodate physiological changes and circulation needs. This localized differentiation allows both efficient load transfer and adaptability to physiological variations.
Data Source
AI summary
A disarticulated compression socket configured to secure a residual limb. The disarticulated compression socket may include a rigid socket frame having one or more compression apertures each having one or more disarticulated compression inserts. Each disarticulated compression insert may be coupled with, and responsive to, a compression actuator configured to adjust the disarticulated compression insert individually, or in concert. In one preferred embodiment, at least one compression actuator may be coupled with one, or a plurality of disarticulated compression inserts and further configured to retract and/or expand the coupled disarticulated compression inserts securing the residual limb within said socket frame. Control of the compression actuators may be manual or automatic in response to a signal from a sensor. Additional embodiments may also include one or more lateral release channels configured to accommodate soft tissue expansion of the residual limb as it is compressed and/or secured within the socket frame.