Flexible inner socket for providing inner circumference reduction to rigid prosthetic socket

A method of forming a flexible inner socket, comprising:

• providing a rigid prosthetic socket configured to fit at least a portion of a residual limb of a user, wherein the rigid prosthetic socket comprises a first end, a second end, an inner circumference, the first end having an opening, the second end being substantially closed, and an inner surface having contours that substantially mimic contours of the residual limb, wherein the rigid prosthetic socket has not been globally reduced in dimension;
• providing a flexible pre-socket;
• heating the flexible pre-socket to a temperature so that the flexible pre-socket becomes a formable flexible pre-socket;
• arranging at least a portion of the formable flexible pre-socket into the rigid prosthetic socket;
• and
• molding the formable flexible pre-socket onto the inner surface of the rigid prosthetic socket such that an outer circumference of the formable flexible pre-socket substantially follows the contours of the inner surface of the rigid prosthetic socket comprising:
• providing a sleeve;
• arranging the sleeve around at least a portion of the formable flexible pre-socket extending past the first end of the rigid prosthetic socket and the at least a portion of an upper region of the rigid prosthetic socket near the first end,
• wherein the second end of the rigid prosthetic socket has a base with a channel that extends through the base from an inside of the rigid prosthetic socket to an outside of the rigid prosthetic socket, connecting a vacuum source to the channel in the base, and
• wherein the molding of the formable flexible pre-socket onto the inner surface is aided with a vacuum pressure from the vacuum source.

A method of forming a flexible inner socket, comprising:

• providing a prosthetic socket having an inner surface with contours that substantially mimic contours of a residual limb, wherein the prosthetic socket has not been globally reduced;
• providing a pre-socket;
• heating the pre-socket with a heat source to a temperature where the pre-socket becomes moldable;
• arranging at least a portion of the heated pre-socket into the prosthetic socket;
• and
• molding the heated pre-socket onto the inner surface with a vacuum pressure such that an outer circumference of the pre-socket substantially follows one or more of the contours of the inner surface of the prosthetic socket.