Prosthetic Suspension Liner Seal Component Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing suspension liners for prosthetic devices often fail to adequately tolerate volume fluctuations, cause pressure marks on residual limbs, and do not conform well to user anatomy, leading to discomfort and unreliable suspension.

Innovation Solution

A suspension liner with a seal component that creates a vacuum connection between the residual limb and prosthetic socket, eliminating the need for a distal pin and sleeve, featuring a radially elastically extensible conical liner body and a seal component with obliquely extending blades for secure and comfortable attachment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a distal pin and sleeve are used to couple the liner to the socket, then reliable suspension is achieved, but distal pistoning occurs and restriction over the knee is caused

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesuspension reliabilityVSAvoiddistal pistoning and knee restriction

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and eliminates the distal pin and sleeve components from the suspension system. Instead of using these separate coupling components, the seal component itself is designed to directly engage with the socket wall, removing the harmful distal pin while maintaining suspension functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention merges the sealing function and suspension function into a single integrated seal component. The seal component simultaneously creates the seal against the socket and provides suspension through its engagement with the socket wall, eliminating the need for separate pin and sleeve components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If known liners are used, then basic suspension is provided, but volume fluctuations are not sufficiently tolerated and pressure marks occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesuspension stabilityVSAvoidpressure marks on residual limb

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies local quality by creating a differentiated pressure distribution through the seal component's engagement with the socket. The seal component concentrates the suspensive force at the socket interface rather than distributing it across the entire liner-residual limb interface, thereby protecting the residual limb from pressure marks while maintaining suspension stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The invention incorporates dynamics through the radially elastically extensible material that allows the liner body to dynamically adapt to volume fluctuations in the residual limb. This elastic extensibility enables the liner to expand and contract with limb volume changes without compromising the seal or suspension.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If a seal component is added to create vacuum suspension, then reliable suspension without distal pin is achieved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesuspension reliabilityVSAvoidliner structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges multiple functions into the seal component: sealing against the socket, creating vacuum for suspension, and providing structural engagement with the socket wall. This consolidation achieves reliable suspension without distal pin while avoiding the complexity of adding separate components for each function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The seal component is designed as a multi-functional element that simultaneously performs sealing, suspension, and structural engagement functions. This universality reduces overall device complexity by eliminating the need for separate distal pin, sleeve, and sealing components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 provides reliable suspension without distal attachments, reduces pressure marks, and accommodates varying limb volumes, ensuring comfort and secure connection between the socket and residual limb.

Implementation Method 1

an elongate, generally conical liner body formed from at least one material segment that is at least radially elastically extensible

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

create a vacuum to suspend the residual limb to the socket

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVacuum: Vacuum

Implementation Method 3

expels air through a distal valve on the socket so as to create hypobaric suction below the seal component

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Data Source

PatentUS11399968B2Suspension liner with seal component

Publication Date: 2022.08.02 OSSUR HF

AI summary

A seal component for a prosthetic liner comprises a base portion located at a distal portion of the seal component and anchored circumferentially to an exterior surface of the liner; a seal wall arranged to flexibly and movably extend relative to a body of the liner; at least two seal rings radially and outwardly extending from the seal wall; and an outwardly pitched portion at the distal end of the seal component and extends obliquely away from the base portion relative to the axis of the seal component, and an inwardly pitched portion at the proximal end of the seal component and extends obliquely toward the axis of the seal component, the at least two seal rings are located between the outwardly and inwardly pitched portions.