Hollow Prosthesis Socket Structure for Lower Weight and Strength

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing prosthetic sockets are heavy due to their robust construction to withstand mechanical stresses, which reduces wearing comfort, and existing manufacturing methods are complex and inefficient.

Innovation Solution

A prosthetic socket design with a hollow cavity and internal elements, such as struts and partitions, that are integrally formed with the walls, reducing weight while enhancing stability, and using additive manufacturing to optimize support element placement and material distribution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If robust construction is used to withstand mechanical stresses, then strength and stability are improved, but weight increases reducing wearing comfort

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanical stress resistanceVSAvoidprosthetic socket weight

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The prosthetic socket is divided into multiple functional zones with different wall thicknesses and material densities. The inner wall, outer wall, and intermediate elements are segmented to provide targeted structural support only where mechanically necessary, reducing overall weight while maintaining strength in critical load-bearing areas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the prosthetic socket have non-uniform material properties - the inner wall has different thickness and material composition than the outer wall, and intermediate elements vary in density and structure. This local quality optimization ensures high strength where needed while minimizing weight in less critical areas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Strength

If multiple process steps and materials are used to reinforce 3D printed sockets, then mechanical strength is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanical stress resistanceVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The inner wall, outer wall, and intermediate support elements are merged into a single integrally formed structure manufactured in one additive printing process. This eliminates the need for separate reinforcement steps and multiple material applications, reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The additive manufacturing process is used to create multiple functional components (inner wall, outer wall, intermediate elements) with different structural properties in a single operation. This universal approach replaces multiple specialized manufacturing steps with one multi-functional process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4076293B1Prosthesis socket and method for producing same

Publication Date: 2026.01.28 OTTOBOCK SE & CO KGAA

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AI summary

The invention relates to a prosthesis socket (2) having an open proximal end (4) accommodating an amputation stump, an inner wall and an outer wall, at least one hollow space (24) being located between the inner wall and the outer wall and at least one internal element extending through said hollow space, the at least one internal element being integrally formed with the inner wall and/or the outer wall.