Adjustable Prosthetic Seal Bands for Residual Limb Volume Changes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing suspension liners for prosthetic sockets fail to adequately accommodate volume fluctuations and anatomical variations of residual limbs, leading to pressure marks and discomfort, particularly in trans-tibial applications due to bony protuberances and irregular shapes.

Innovation Solution

An adjustable seal system with seal components that can be placed at various locations along the liner body, featuring seal bands and a textile sleeve for anatomical conformity, allowing for flexible placement to avoid pressure points and accommodate shape changes, while providing a secure seal with the prosthetic socket.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a fixed seal system is used in suspension liners, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but it cannot accommodate volume fluctuations and anatomical variations of residual limbs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccommodation of volume fluctuations and anatomical variationsVSAvoidseal system structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The seal component is divided into multiple seal bands positioned at different locations along the liner body. These segmented seal bands can independently engage with corresponding features on the residual limb, allowing the system to adapt to various anatomical shapes and volume changes while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The seal system incorporates elastic or compliant seal bands that can dynamically adjust their position and engagement force. This allows the seal to accommodate volume fluctuations and anatomical variations automatically, providing adaptability without requiring complex mechanical adjustment mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If seal bands are placed at multiple locations along the liner body, then adaptability to anatomical variations improves, but the complexity of the seal component increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflexible placement to avoid pressure pointsVSAvoidseal component with multiple seal bands

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The seal component consists of multiple discrete seal bands that can be positioned at different locations along the liner body. Each seal band is a simple elastic element that can engage independently, providing flexible placement options to avoid pressure points on bony protuberances while keeping the overall component design relatively simple.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different seal bands are positioned at specific locations along the liner body to address local anatomical variations. The seal bands can be strategically placed to avoid pressure points on bony protuberances while providing secure engagement in appropriate areas, allowing local adaptation without requiring complete redesign of the entire seal system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If the seal component is made from elastic material to accommodate shape changes, then comfort and adaptability improve, but rotational control may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccommodation of shape changesVSAvoidrotational control

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The seal component is segmented into multiple elastic seal bands that can independently deform to accommodate shape changes. This segmentation allows each band to flex and adapt to anatomical variations while the collective arrangement of multiple bands maintains rotational stability through distributed engagement points.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The seal component uses composite construction combining elastic materials for adaptability with potentially reinforced zones or strategic positioning to maintain rotational control. The elastic seal bands provide shape accommodation while their arrangement and engagement mechanism preserve necessary rotational stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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 system enhances comfort and skin protection by accommodating volume fluctuations and anatomical variations, ensuring a reliable seal and easy donning/doffing, minimizing pressure marks, and providing rotational control.

Implementation Method 1

The internal surface is arranged to frictionally engage at least one of the plurality of seal bands and secure on the outer surface of the liner body

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 2

An adjustable seal system with seal components that can be placed at various locations along the liner body, featuring seal bands and a textile sleeve for anatomical conformity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS20260007530A1Adjustable seal system, seal component and method for using the same

Publication Date: 2026.01.08 OSSUR ICELAND EHF

AI summary

An adjustable seal system, seal component for use in the system, and method are provided for forming a sealing interface between a residual limb and a prosthetic socket. The seal component is selectively placed over the outer surface of a suspension liner including a plurality of seal bands, which the seal component may removably and securely engage.