Prosthetic Liner Stand Pin Support for Inverted Cleaning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Cleaning the inner surface of pin-type polymeric prosthetic liners is challenging due to their slippery nature and inverted state during use, making it difficult to handle and clean with both hands while maintaining reliable support.

Innovation Solution

A liner stand with a base and elongate standoff that receives the pin of the liner, allowing the buttress to be supported, enabling the inner surface to be cleaned with both hands and providing stable support for washing, drying, or storage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the liner is cleaned in its normal non-inverted state, then the inner surface is accessible for cleaning, but the liner cannot be properly supported on the dryer stand

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveAccessibility of inner surface for cleaningVSAvoidStability of support on dryer stand

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The liner is inverted during cleaning, with the inner surface facing outward for accessibility. The standoff is designed with an open upper end that receives the pin, allowing the inverted liner to be stably supported while the inner surface is exposed for cleaning with both hands.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Ease of operation

If the liner is cleaned in its inverted state, then both hands can be used for cleaning, but the liner is not well supported on the dryer stand

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveAbility to clean with both handsVSAvoidStability of support on dryer stand

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The pin is extracted from the closed end of the liner and inserted into the open upper end of the standoff. This extraction allows the inverted liner to be properly supported by the standoff, which receives the pin and provides stable support for the liner during cleaning with both hands.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If the closed upper end of the standoff conforms to the buttress shape, then the liner is well supported, but the pin interferes with the standoff and spaces the liner away

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveStability of support on dryer standVSAvoidProximity of liner to standoff for cleaning

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of designing the standoff to conform to the buttress shape, the patent inverts the approach by having the standoff's open upper end receive the pin. This inversion allows the pin to be the supporting element rather than an interference, enabling both stable support and close proximity for cleaning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

4Ease of operation

If the liner is handled while inverted and slippery, then it can be cleaned with both hands, but it is difficult to handle and maintain support

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveAbility to clean inner surfaceVSAvoidDifficulty of handling liner

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The standoff acts as an intermediary device that receives the pin and provides stable support for the inverted liner. This intermediary structure allows the user to clean the slippery inner surface with both hands while the liner remains securely supported, reducing handling difficulty.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11478368B1Device and method for cleaning a prosthetic liner

Publication Date: 2022.10.25 CURRY RICHARD

AI summary

A method for supporting a pin-type prosthetic liner includes placing the liner in an inverted state on a standoff extending from the base of a liner stand. The standoff extends to an upper end that supports the liner on the liner stand. The upper end is an open end that receives the pin of the inverted liner being supported on the liner stand.