Prosthetic Socket Liner Ridges Channels Friction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Transtibial socket interfaces in prosthetic systems face issues such as deformation of soft tissues, slipping between layers, sweat buildup, and material bunching, leading to discomfort, pain, and poor control of the prosthetic leg, due to inadequate friction and moisture management.
Innovation Solution
A socket liner with a polymeric wall member featuring increased surface area through horizontal ridges and vertical channels, enhancing the coefficient of friction and moisture management to stabilize the residual limb, reduce slippage, and prevent bunching.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a smooth socket liner interface is used, then comfort is improved, but friction is insufficient causing slippage and poor control
Solution Approach 1:
The socket liner incorporates horizontal ridges and vertical channels that create locally varied surface properties. The ridges provide friction-enhancing contact points while the channels provide moisture management, allowing different regions of the interface to serve different functions - some areas for friction, others for moisture evacuation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a two-dimensional smooth surface to a three-dimensional textured surface with horizontal ridges and vertical channels. This adds depth and volume to the interface, creating multiple contact points and pathways that simultaneously increase friction and moisture management capability.
2Force
If friction is increased to prevent slippage, then control is improved, but soft tissue deformation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The interface is segmented into multiple functional elements: horizontal ridges for friction, vertical channels for moisture management, and distributed contact points. This segmentation allows friction to be generated through multiple small contact points rather than one large area, distributing the pressure and reducing soft tissue deformation.
Solution Approach 2:
The vertical channels create a porous-like structure in the socket liner interface that allows moisture to pass through. This reduces fluid buildup and pressure on soft tissues while maintaining the friction needed for control through the ridge structures.
3Ease of operation
If moisture management is improved, then comfort is improved, but surface area requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The vertical channels add a third dimension to the surface, creating pathways that extend through the material thickness. This allows moisture management to occur through volume rather than requiring increased surface area, as the channels provide internal pathways for sweat evacuation.
Solution Approach 2:
The moisture management function is segmented into discrete vertical channels distributed across the interface. These channels provide multiple localized pathways for sweat evacuation, achieving effective moisture management without requiring a uniformly large surface area.
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 design provides a stiffer interface with reduced pressure requirements, minimizing fluid loss, atrophy, and discomfort, while maintaining stability and comfort by increasing the coefficient of friction and surface area for improved prosthetic control.
Implementation Method 1
enhancing the coefficient of friction and moisture management to stabilize the residual limb, reduce slippage
Implementation Method 2
vertical channels can be disposed on the inner surface of the polymeric wall member on the anterior side and the posterior side
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments herein relate to socket liners for prosthetic systems and prosthetic systems including the same. In an embodiment, a socket liner for a prosthetic system is included having a polymeric wall member defining an interior volume. The polymeric wall member having an inner surface bordering the interior volume and an outer surface. The polymeric wall member can include an anterior side, a posterior side, a first lateral side and a second lateral side the second lateral side opposite the first lateral side. A plurality of horizontal ridges can be disposed on the inner surface of the polymeric wall member on the first lateral side and the second lateral side. A plurality of vertical channels can be disposed on the inner surface of the polymeric wall member on the anterior side and the posterior side. Other embodiments are also included herein.