Additive-Manufactured Prosthetic Socket-Liner Ventilation Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing prosthetic devices often fail to provide effective ventilation, moisture management, and anatomical fit, leading to discomfort and poor performance in dissipating heat and managing sweat or bodily fluids, while also lacking customizable features for individual patient needs.
Innovation Solution
A prosthetic assembly comprising a socket and a liner with interlocking features, internal channels for ventilation and moisture evaporation, variable thickness, and lattice structures for force distribution, manufactured through additive manufacturing or injection molding, tailored to individual patient anatomy and needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If traditional prosthetic devices are used, then manufacturing is simpler, but ventilation and moisture management are ineffective
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates porous materials and internal voids within the prosthetic device structure to enable ventilation channels and moisture evaporation pathways. These porous structures allow air and vapor to pass through while maintaining structural integrity, directly addressing the heat dissipation and moisture management issues without requiring complex separate ventilation components.
Solution Approach 2:
The prosthetic device is segmented into multiple functional components including a socket, liner, and integrated ventilation channels. The device is divided into sections with specific functions: structural support, moisture management, and ventilation, allowing each component to be optimized independently while maintaining overall manufacturability.
2Ease of manufacture
If prosthetic devices have fixed thickness, then manufacturing is easier, but anatomical fit and comfort are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements variable thickness design where different portions of the prosthetic device have different wall thicknesses tailored to local anatomical requirements. Areas requiring more support have thicker walls, while areas requiring flexibility or comfort have thinner walls. This local quality variation is achieved through additive manufacturing or precision molding techniques that can accommodate complex thickness profiles.
3Ease of manufacture
If prosthetic devices lack interlocking features, then assembly is simpler, but connection between components is weaker
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple components (socket and liner) into an integrated assembly with interlocking features built into a single manufacturing process. The interlocking mechanisms are combined with the structural elements of the device, allowing simultaneous creation of both structural integrity and assembly features through additive manufacturing or injection molding, thus maintaining simplicity while enhancing connection strength.
4Device complexity
If prosthetic devices lack internal channels, then structure is simpler, but heat dissipation and moisture evaporation are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent embeds ventilation channels and internal voids within the walls of the socket and liner, creating a nested structure where the channels are contained within the structural material. This nesting approach allows the integration of heat dissipation and moisture evaporation pathways without adding external complexity or compromising the overall structural integrity of the prosthetic device.
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
Improves comfort and performance by effectively managing sweat and heat, distributing forces, and providing customizable features, enhancing the fit and functionality of prosthetic devices.
Implementation Method 1
the inner voids include a first set of internal channels for heat dissipation from the patient's distal limb to facilitate cooling of the patient's distal limb
Implementation Method 2
the inner voids include a second set of internal channels for moisture evaporation from the patient's distal limb to facilitate evaporation of sweat or bodily fluids from the patient's distal limb
Data Source
AI summary
A prosthetic assembly includes a socket and a liner. The socket includes a first interlocking feature and defines an inner volume. The liner includes a second interlocking feature. The first interlocking feature and the second interlocking feature are configured to engage each other when the liner is inserted into the inner volume of the socket. The liner is configured to receive a distal limb of a patient. At least one of the socket or the liner include inner voids extending within walls of the socket or the liner.