Vacuum Prosthetic Mounting Plate Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional prosthetic mounting systems fail to provide a secure, comfortable, and stable fit for amputees due to varying residual limb shapes and sizes, leading to discomfort, skin irritation, and instability during ambulation, with existing anchoring systems relying on single attachment points and radial pressure fits that can cause the limb to shift or pop out of the socket.
Innovation Solution
A mounting plate assembly with a pair of mounting plates and a fluid regulator that maintains fluid communication between the socket cavity and the mounting plate assembly, using a one-way valve to expel air and create a vacuum-assisted secure fit, ensuring the residual limb remains attached during weight-bearing and swing phases of ambulation, even if the vacuum source fails.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional mounting systems use radial pressure fit to secure the prosthetic device to the residual limb, then the device can be attached to the limb, but the limb receives uneven compression causing discomfort and may pop out of the socket during use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a vacuum system that creates negative pressure within the socket to secure the residual limb. The vacuum pump removes air from the socket cavity, creating a pressure differential that presses the limb against the socket interior surface. This pneumatic mechanism provides uniform distribution of securing force across the limb surface, eliminating the uneven compression and discomfort associated with conventional radial pressure fits while maintaining reliable attachment.
2Device complexity
If conventional anchoring systems use a single attachment point to hold the residual limb in place, then the mounting system is simple, but the limb experiences extraneous pivoting, rotating, and shifting during ambulation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes a flexible liner made of elastomeric material that lines the interior of the socket. This flexible shell conforms to the shape of the residual limb and distributes the vacuum pressure uniformly across the limb surface. The flexible liner works in conjunction with the vacuum system to provide multi-point attachment, preventing pivoting, rotating, and shifting of the limb during ambulation while maintaining relative simplicity in the overall mounting system design.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If additional soft padding is added within the socket to improve comfort, then the amputee experiences reduced skin irritation, but the extra material interferes with forming an optimal connection between the socket and residual limb
Solution Approach 1:
The vacuum system provides a pneumatic cushioning effect that distributes pressure uniformly across the limb surface without requiring physical padding materials. The negative pressure creates a suction effect that holds the limb against the socket interior surface, providing comfort and reducing skin irritation while maintaining direct contact and optimal connection between the socket and residual limb. This eliminates the need for additional padding that would interfere with the connection quality.
4Strength
If the socket is made hard to provide structural support, then the socket can maintain its shape and provide stability, but the hard socket material cannot accommodate changes in residual limb shape and size
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a flexible liner made of elastomeric material that lines the interior of the hard socket. This flexible shell can deform and conform to changes in the residual limb's shape and size, accommodating volume fluctuations and shape variations. The flexible liner works in conjunction with the hard socket structure to provide both structural support and adaptability, allowing the socket to maintain its external shape and stability while internally accommodating limb changes through the flexible liner's deformation.
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 improved comfort, stability, and durability by minimizing extraneous motion and maintaining a secure fit, reducing skin irritation and discomfort, while allowing for periodic adjustments to accommodate changes in limb size and shape.
Implementation Method 1
using a one-way valve to expel air and create a vacuum-assisted secure fit
Implementation Method 2
The fluid regulator is arranged to allow fluid communication between the cavity and the mounting plate assembly and to regulate the flow of fluid from the cavity to the mounting plate assembly
Data Source
AI summary
A prosthetic device and a method for making the same includes a mounting plate assembly. The mounting plate assembly includes an inner housing having a first center channel defined along a central axis, an outer housing having a second center channel defined along the central axis, and a fluid regulator arranged between the inner and outer housings, and defined along the central axis. The prosthetic device includes a socket having a cavity and a distal portion whereat the mounting plate assembly is located.The mounting plate assembly further including an inner mounting plate having a first center opening defined along the central axis, the first center opening arranged to receive at least a portion of the inner housing; and an outer mounting plate having a second center opening defined along the central axis, the second center opening arranged to receive at least a portion of the outer housing; wherein the inner and outer mounting plates define a plurality of corresponding holes for receiving a plurality of fasteners for securing to the inner and outer mounting plates.