Perforated Prosthesis Liner for Moisture Management
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional prosthesis liners made from elastomer materials suffer from moisture accumulation between the skin and the liner due to sweat gland activity, leading to discomfort, reduced adhesion, and increased risk of detachment, which can cause health issues and safety hazards.
Innovation Solution
A prosthesis liner with pores, particularly at the distal tip, that become open during stretching, allowing moisture to drain away from the skin surface, utilizing a combination of elastomer materials and optional textile layers for enhanced gas exchange and moisture management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a prosthesis liner is made from impermeable elastomer material to maintain vacuum adhesion, then the adhesive friction and vacuum formation are improved, but moisture accumulates between the skin and liner causing discomfort and reduced adhesion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies porous materials by incorporating pores throughout the elastomer liner material. These pores allow moisture to pass through the liner from the skin surface to the external environment, preventing moisture accumulation while maintaining the structural integrity and adhesive friction of the liner. The porous structure enables selective permeability to moisture while preserving the vacuum adhesion function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining elastomer material with porous structure. This creates a composite liner that integrates the adhesive properties of elastomer with the moisture-wicking capability of porous structure, achieving both high adhesion and effective moisture management simultaneously.
2Ease of operation
If the liner is made from elastomer material to provide elasticity and clinging, then the wearing comfort and sealing are improved, but skin intolerance and irritation occur due to moisture trapping
Solution Approach 1:
The porous structure in the elastomer liner provides breathability and moisture wicking capability, allowing sweat to escape through the liner. This prevents the damp, hot environment that causes skin irritation while preserving the elasticity and clinging properties of the elastomer material for comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful effect of sweat production into a beneficial drainage mechanism. The pores in the liner material guide and facilitate the natural flow of sweat away from the skin surface, transforming what would be a harmful moisture accumulation into a controlled drainage process that prevents irritation.
3Reliability
If the liner is made impermeable to maintain vacuum, then the prosthesis fixation is improved, but the effective wear time is reduced due to moisture-related adhesion loss
Solution Approach 1:
The porous elastomer liner maintains vacuum adhesion for prosthesis fixation while simultaneously allowing moisture to pass through. This prevents the adhesion loss that would otherwise occur due to moisture accumulation, thereby extending the effective wear time without compromising fixation reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The continuous porous structure throughout the liner material provides ongoing moisture drainage capability during the entire wearing period. This continuous moisture management maintains consistent adhesion properties and vacuum levels, extending the duration of effective prosthesis fixation.
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 solution significantly improves wearing comfort and safety by preventing excessive moisture accumulation while maintaining vacuum adherence, reducing skin irritation, and extending the prosthesis's effective wear time.
Implementation Method 1
The invention proposes a novel prosthesis liner for application to a limb stump according to claim 1. According to the invention, this comprises at least one elastic liner layer made of elastomer, which according to the invention has pores at least in the region of the distal tip of the limb stump.
Implementation Method 2
the liner layer has pores at least in the region of the distal tip of the limb stump
Data Source
AI summary
The invention concerns a prosthesis liner for application to a limb stump, with an elastic liner layer (20) of elastomer, wherein the liner layer (20) has pores (26) in at least one distal portion (30) thereof.