Prosthetic Socks with Spacer Fabric Shock Absorption
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current prosthetic socks and liners fail to effectively absorb shock during ambulation, causing discomfort and pain for amputees, especially during sports or long periods of standing, and lack machine-washability and breathability.
Innovation Solution
Integration of spacer fabrics with specific yarns and knitting patterns to create a shock-absorbing prosthetic sock or liner, which includes a 2×2 knit outer wall and a 1×3 inner wall, providing a three-dimensional structure for enhanced cushioning and pressure resistance, and can be made entirely or partially with materials like polyester and monofilament fibers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If gel is incorporated to attenuate impacts, then shock absorption is improved, but machine washability and dryability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses foam material with porous structure instead of gel to provide shock absorption. The porous structure allows water and air to pass through, enabling machine washability and dryability while maintaining impact attenuation capabilities. The foam cells compress under impact forces and rebound, providing cushioning without the water retention issues of gel.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines foam material with fabric layers to create a composite prosthetic sock or liner. The foam provides shock absorption while the fabric outer layer provides durability and machine washability. This composite structure integrates the benefits of both materials while eliminating their individual drawbacks.
2Force
If spacer fabrics are used to provide shock absorption, then cushioning is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The prosthetic sock or liner is divided into multiple functional layers: an outer fabric layer for durability, a middle foam layer for shock absorption, and potentially additional fabric layers. Each layer performs a specific function, and they are stacked together to create the complete product. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while maintaining overall simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses thin foam layers and fabric films to provide shock absorption without adding significant bulk or complexity. The foam can be made as a thin conformal layer that adapts to the limb shape, providing cushioning in a minimal thickness. This approach maintains simplicity while achieving the desired shock absorption.
3Reliability
If current prosthetic socks and liners are used, then basic coverage is provided, but shock absorption during ambulation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates foam shock absorption material into the prosthetic sock or liner before the user wears it. This pre-integrated cushioning is always present during ambulation, providing continuous protection against ground response forces. The foam layer is positioned between the residual limb and the prosthetic socket to intercept impact forces before they reach the limb.
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 significantly reduces the force transmitted to the limb during impact, offering improved comfort and breathability while being machine-washable, suitable for various activities and conditions, including athletic use and long-standing occupations.
Implementation Method 1
socks and liners incorporating spacer fabrics utilizing specific yarns in specific knitting patterns which provide shock absorbing properties
Implementation Method 2
Spacer fabrics can offer high absorption capacities. The pressure-resistance property can also be adjusted by adjusting the type of fibers, the number of the fibers, the angle of the fibers in the textile structure, and the stitch density.
Data Source
AI summary
A shock absorbing covering that has an opening, a closed liner distal end, and sidewalls. The distal end further comprises a distal region that is knitted with spacer fabric to the same circumference as the liner or sock or is configured to conform to specific areas of a foot; preferably, (1) the toe region leaving out the big toe region, (2) the metatarsal head (MTH) 1 region leaving out the MTHs 2-3 region and the MTHs 4-5 region, (3) the medial mid-foot region, (4) the lateral mid-foot region, and (5) the lateral heel region leaving out the medial heel region. The spacer fabric is preferred as a 2×2 knit outer wall with a 1×3 inner wall made using a number of knitting steps described herein but may be a multitude of configurations allowing for a continuous seamless shape in three dimensions. An alternative yarn may be used that is coated in poly(vinyl alcohol) that expands after being washed to create shock absorbing expansion pockets.