Interchangeable Prosthetic Pump-Lock via Universal Dummy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Prosthetic sockets traditionally require separate construction for either mechanical locks or vacuum pumps, leading to inefficiencies and patient health risks if the chosen securing device is incompatible, as rebuilding is necessary if compatibility issues arise.
Innovation Solution
A universally shaped securing device that is geometrically similar for both mechanical locks and vacuum pumps, allowing for interchangeable use within the same prosthetic socket, using a construction dummy with similar dimensions to facilitate either mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a prosthetic socket is constructed to accommodate a specific securing device (mechanical lock or vacuum pump), then the socket can be optimized for that device, but the socket cannot be used with the other type of securing device
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal socket construction that can accommodate both mechanical lock and vacuum pump securing devices by using a standardized dummy component with specific geometric properties. The dummy serves as a placeholder during construction that defines a universal volume and interface geometry, allowing the same socket to work with either securing device type without requiring separate construction protocols.
2Reliability
If a prosthetist builds a socket utilizing a vacuum pump and afterwards determines it is incompatible with the amputee, then the socket must be rebuilt
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by using a standardized dummy component during the construction phase that pre-defines a universal interface geometry. This allows the prosthetist to ensure compatibility is built into the socket construction itself, rather than discovering incompatibility after completion. The dummy serves as a physical guide that guarantees the socket will accommodate the intended securing device type.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of socket construction from device-specific geometry to universal geometry defined by the dummy. By standardizing the volume and interface parameters through the dummy component, the system allows switching between securing device types without reconstruction, as the dummy creates a neutral, adaptable interface that works with both mechanical lock and vacuum pump configurations.
3Manufacturing precision
If separate construction processes are used for mechanical lock and vacuum pump sockets, then each socket can be optimized for its specific device, but manufacturing time and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes a universal construction methodology where the dummy component serves as a common reference for both mechanical lock and vacuum pump sockets. This single construction process, guided by the dummy's standardized geometry, produces sockets optimized for their respective devices while maintaining efficiency, eliminating the need for separate construction protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The dummy acts as an intermediary component during construction that mediates between the prosthetist's intent and the final socket geometry. By placing the dummy in the socket during construction, it automatically defines the appropriate volume and interface characteristics for the intended securing device, simplifying the construction process while maintaining device-specific optimization.
Data Source
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AI summary
An interchangeable lock-pump prosthetic system that includes a universal dummy, vacuum pump, and mechanical lock. Each of the three objects have similar geometries for the purpose of fitting into a prosthetic, whereupon a user may for instance, swap the vacuum pump with the lock, depending on the needs of the user and without changing to a separate prosthetic. The universal dummy is an inactive component and acts as a placeholder during manufacturing of the socket, for the eventual inclusion of the vacuum pump or mechanical lock. The vacuum pump is a pressure dependent object that acts to remove any residual air between the socket and the elastomeric liner. The lock takes advantage of a mechanical locking pin which receives a properly configured liner, thus securing the user within the prosthetic socket.