Prosthesis Socket Anchors for Modular Mechatronic Fit Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing prosthetic socket systems lack an efficient and reliable method for integrating mechatronic components, requiring individual assembly and customization, which complicates the manufacturing process and limits adaptability to individual patient needs.

Innovation Solution

A prosthetic socket system with a prefabricated mechatronic functional element, including an energy storage device, sensor, control unit, and actuator, is integrated via anchors into a base body, allowing for standardized assembly and adaptive volume adjustment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If mechatronic components are individually assembled and customized in existing prosthetic socket systems, then adaptability to individual patient needs is improved, but manufacturing complexity and process difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to individual patient needsVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The prosthetic socket system is divided into modular components: a base body with standardized anchor structures and detachable mechatronic functional elements. This segmentation allows individual customization of functional elements while maintaining standardized manufacturing of the base body, thereby reducing overall manufacturing complexity while preserving adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The base body is designed with universal anchor structures that can accommodate multiple types of mechatronic functional elements (sensors, actuators, energy storage devices). This universal interface enables a single standardized base body to support various patient-specific configurations, reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining high adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If mechatronic components are individually assembled, then customization to patient needs is improved, but assembly time and manufacturing efficiency decrease

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecustomization to patient needsVSAvoidmanufacturing efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The base body is pre-manufactured with integrated anchor structures in standardized positions during the base body production process. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for time-consuming individual assembly operations, as mechatronic functional elements can be directly attached to pre-positioned anchors, thereby improving manufacturing efficiency while preserving customization capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The anchor structures are merged directly into the base body manufacturing process rather than being separate assembly steps. This integration combines the manufacturing of the base body and anchor structures into a single process, reducing assembly time and improving overall manufacturing efficiency while maintaining the ability to customize functional elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of manufacture

If standardized integration methods are used, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but adaptability to individual patient needs may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidadaptability to individual patient needs

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the prosthetic socket into a standardized base body and customizable functional elements. The base body maintains standardized manufacturing processes and anchor structures for ease of manufacture, while functional elements can be individually selected and attached to meet specific patient needs, thereby preserving adaptability without compromising manufacturing simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The standardized anchor structures on the base body serve as universal interfaces that can accommodate multiple types of mechatronic functional elements. This universality allows a single standardized base body design to support various patient-specific configurations, maintaining manufacturing simplicity while ensuring high adaptability to individual patient needs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4312896B1Prosthesis socket system and method for producing same

Publication Date: 2025.12.31 OTTOBOCK SE & CO KGAA

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AI summary

The invention relates to a prosthesis socket system having a main part (10) with a socket wall (11) which, when mounted, at least partially encompasses a limb or residual limb, and comprises at least two opposing socket wall edges (12, 13) or socket wall regions (16, 17), two anchor elements (22, 23), each anchor element (22, 23) being positioned in a socket wall edge (12, 13) or on a socket wall region (16, 17), and a mechatronic functional element (20) which is secured to said anchor elements (22, 23).