Trimmable Prosthetic Sleeve with Flexible Opening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Prosthetic limbs often require bespoke manufacturing and frequent adjustments due to individual user needs, which can be expensive and time-consuming, and early fitting is limited by wound healing requirements, causing discomfort and costly replacements.
Innovation Solution
A trimmable prosthesis sleeve with a hollow cylindrical or frusto-conical design, allowing adjustable length and a flexible opening that can be widened for easy limb insertion without shear force, combined with a releasable end cap for maintenance and customizable closure-mounting regions for secure attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a trimmable prosthesis sleeve is provided, then the length can be adjusted for different users, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The prosthesis sleeve is divided into a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal opening that can be trimmed. This segmentation allows the distal end to be removed to adjust length while keeping the main body intact, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The prosthesis sleeve incorporates a flexible covering that allows dynamic adjustment of the longitudinal opening width. The flexible material enables the opening to be widened for limb insertion and then returns to its original shape, providing adaptability without permanent structural modifications.
2Ease of operation
If the longitudinal opening is widened to allow limb insertion, then ease of operation improves, but the structural integrity may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The prosthesis sleeve uses a flexible covering made of elastic material that can be stretched to widen the longitudinal opening for limb insertion. The flexible shell returns to its original shape after insertion, maintaining structural integrity while enabling easy operation. This directly resolves the contradiction between ease of operation and structural integrity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the second end is made hollow and trimmable, then adaptability improves, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The prosthesis sleeve is designed to be trimmed by the user or clinician using simple cutting tools. The self-service trimming capability eliminates the need for precise factory customization, allowing adaptability without high manufacturing precision requirements. The flexible covering compensates for minor trimming variations.
4Ease of repair
If a releasable end cap is provided, then ease of repair improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The prosthesis sleeve is segmented into a main body and a separate end cap that can be releasably attached. This segmentation allows the end cap to be removed for maintenance or replacement without affecting the main body, improving ease of repair while keeping the overall structure simple through modular design.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to prostheses for limbs, particularly modular, adjustable and customisable prostheses.