Seamless Prosthetic Sock Toe via Interlaced Knitting

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Prior art compressive fabric sleeves for amputated limbs suffer from focal pressure and uneven compression due to thick, unevenly formed closed ends, which can irritate and poorly cover the sensitive amputated end.

Innovation Solution

A seamless, stretchable fabric sleeve with a tubular section and a rounded toe end, featuring interlaced stitching rows with progressively decreasing stitches and a common knitted edge, designed to conform to the amputated limb without seams, reducing focal pressure and ensuring even compression.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If prior art sleeves include a closed end formed by traditional knitting methods, then the sleeve can cover the amputated end, but thick fabric sections with ears are created causing focal pressure and irritation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefocal pressure and irritationVSAvoidevenness of closed end formation

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The closed end is divided into two separate panels that are knitted independently and then joined together along a common knitted edge. This segmentation allows each panel to be formed without creating thick fabric sections, eliminating the ear formation problem while still providing complete coverage of the amputated end.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The knitting structure is made asymmetric with panels of different lengths that are joined at a common edge. This local variation in panel configuration allows the closed end to form evenly without creating thick sections, providing uniform coverage and pressure distribution across the amputated end.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Manufacturing precision

If prior art sleeves use traditional closed end construction, then the sleeve can be manufactured, but uneven compression and coverage of the amputated end occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveevenness of closed end formationVSAvoidcomplexity of knitting structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The two panels are joined together through self-interlocking of their respective knitted edges, eliminating the need for separate sewing or attachment operations. The knitting structure itself provides the joining mechanism, simplifying the overall manufacturing process while achieving even closure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Object-affected harmful factors

If seams are present in the sleeve, then traditional construction methods can be used, but focal pressure points are created causing discomfort

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefocal pressureVSAvoidseamless construction

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The two separate panels are joined through interlocking of their knitted edges to form a continuous seamless structure. This merging eliminates traditional seams that would create focal pressure points, while the interlocking mechanism provides sufficient structural integrity for the sleeve function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The entire sleeve including the closed end is constructed from the same knitted fabric material throughout, creating a homogeneous structure without seams or joins from different materials. This homogeneity ensures uniform pressure distribution and eliminates focal pressure points.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #33Homogeneity

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 sleeve provides enhanced comfort and even compression, reducing irritation and improving fit by eliminating seams and thick fabric sections, thus better supporting and shaping the amputated limb.

Implementation Method 1

a stretchable sleeve operable to be received on and conform to an amputated limb

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS7363778B2Seamless three-dimensional toe section for prosthetic socks and prosthetic shrinkers

Publication Date: 2008.04.29 THUASNE LLC

AI summary

A stretchable fabric sleeve is configured for use as a prosthetic shrinker or as a prosthetic sock and broadly comprises a unitary receptacle broadly including a tubular section and a rounded end section. In particular, the rounded end section includes opposite panels that are knitted in seriatim with a plurality of interlaced short rows that provide a progressive taper from the open margin of the tubular section to the lowermost toe end of the end section. The progressive taper of the knitted panels permits the outermost edge of the rounded end section to assume a rounded shape that comfortably conforms to an amputated limb and is devoid of any sewn seams that would otherwise irritate the sensitive end of the amputated limb.