Suction lanyard prosthesis suspension system

A prosthesis for a residual limb, the prosthesis comprising:

• a prosthetic socket having an open proximal end, a closed distal end and interior side surfaces defining a well capable of receiving the residual limb;
• a liner disposed in the well and capable of receiving and providing total contact between the residual limb and the interior side surfaces of the prosthetic socket;
• a lanyard depending from a distal end of the liner, the lanyard including an integral sealing element comprising a flexible resilient wedge;
• a socket seal at the distal end of the socket, the socket seal having a proximal upper surface, a distal lower surface, and a side wall interconnecting the upper surface and the lower surface, the upper surface defining a recess opening to the exterior of the socket through the side wall for forming a passage having a rectilinear cross-section for passing the free end of the lanyard such that the sealing element fluidically seals the passage within the socket seal;
• and
• an artificial limb configured to attach to the socket.

A method for suspending a prosthesis from a residual limb having a distal end, the prosthesis suspending method comprising the steps of:

• providing a tubular flexible resilient liner having a closed distal end, the liner including a lanyard having an integral flexible resilient wedge-shaped sealing element and an end secured to the distal end of the liner;
• inserting at least a portion of the residual limb including the distal end of the residual limb into the liner;
• providing a rigid hollow prosthetic socket having an open proximal end, a closed distal end, and interior side surfaces defining a well configured to receive the residual limb, the prosthetic socket including a socket seal disposed at the distal end of the socket, the socket seal comprising a body having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a side wall interconnecting the upper surface and the lower surface, wherein the upper surface defines a recess opening to the exterior of the socket through the side wall for forming a rectilinear passage;
• pulling a free end of the lanyard through the passage for elongating the liner and the residual limb;
• advancing the liner and the elongated residual limb into the socket until the distal end of the residual limb seats against the upper surface of the socket seal and the sealing element engages in the passage within the socket seal for preventing fluid communication through the passage between the interior of the socket and exterior of the socket;
• providing a locking mechanism disposed on the exterior surface of the socket;
• and
• securing the free end of the lanyard to the locking mechanism.