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US 12,004,974 B2Granted
Flexible prosthetic cover
OwnerThomas Lizotteinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A prosthetic cover for a prosthetic support element can include a substantially cylindrical hollow body with a first end and a second end and sized to fit around a support element of a prosthesis. A first flexible end seal and a second flexible end seal can each attach with the substantially cylindrical hollow body at the first and second ends, respectively, and connect the hollow body with the support element of the prosthesis by deforming about the support element when the prosthetic cover is installed around the support element.
Claims20
A prosthetic cover assembly for an elongated prosthetic support element of a prosthesis, the prosthetic cover assembly comprising:
- an elongated protective cover with a first end and a second end, wherein the elongated protective cover is sized to surround, extend along, and accommodate the elongated prosthetic support element, and wherein the elongated prosthetic support element comprises a first end portion and a second end portion;
- a first flexible end seal comprising a first seal annular inner perimeter portion, a first seal annular outer perimeter portion that is radially offset from and circumferentially surrounds the first seal annular inner perimeter portion, and a first seal annular middle portion that connects the first seal annular inner perimeter portion and the first seal annular outer perimeter portion, wherein the first seal annular inner perimeter portion defines a first seal inner opening therethrough that is sized to receive the first end portion of the elongated prosthetic support element and is configured for attachment to the first end portion of the elongated prosthetic support element, wherein the first seal annular outer perimeter portion is configured for attachment to the elongated protective cover at the first end, and wherein the first seal annular middle portion is configured to flex to accommodate tilting of the elongated protective cover relative to the elongated prosthetic support element;
- and
- a second flexible end seal comprising a second seal annular inner perimeter portion, a second seal annular outer perimeter portion that is radially offset from and circumferentially surrounds the second seal annular inner perimeter portion, and a second seal annular middle portion that connects the second seal annular inner perimeter portion and the second seal annular outer perimeter portion, wherein the second seal annular inner perimeter portion defines a second seal inner opening therethrough that is sized to receive the second end portion of the elongated prosthetic support element and is configured for attachment to the second end portion of the elongated prosthetic support element, wherein the second seal annular outer perimeter portion is configured for attachment to the elongated protective cover at the second end, wherein the second seal annular middle portion is configured to flex to accommodate tilting of the elongated protective cover relative to the elongated prosthetic support element.
1 more element
A prosthesis comprising:
- an elongated prosthetic support element comprising a first end portion and a second end portion;
- an elongated protective cover with a first end and a second end, wherein the elongated protective cover is sized to fit around a surround, extend along, and accommodate the elongated prosthetic support element;
- a first flexible end seal comprising a first seal annular inner perimeter portion, a first seal annular outer perimeter portion that is radially offset from and circumferentially surrounds the first seal annular inner perimeter portion, and a first seal annular middle portion that connects the first seal annular inner perimeter portion and the first seal annular outer perimeter portion, wherein the first seal annular inner perimeter portion defines a first seal inner opening therethrough that is sized to receive the first end portion of the elongated prosthetic support element and is configured for attachment to the first end portion of the elongated prosthetic support element, wherein the first seal annular outer perimeter portion is configured for attachment to the elongated protective cover at the first end, and wherein the first seal annular middle portion is configured to flex to accommodate tilting of the elongated protective cover relative to the elongated prosthetic support element;
- and
- a second flexible end seal comprising a second seal annular inner perimeter portion, a second seal annular outer perimeter portion that is radially offset from and circumferentially surrounds the second seal annular inner perimeter portion, and a second seal annular middle portion that connects the second seal annular inner perimeter portion and the second seal annular outer perimeter portion, wherein the second seal annular inner perimeter portion defines a second seal inner opening therethrough that is sized to receive the second end portion of the elongated prosthetic support element and is configured for attachment to the second end portion of the elongated prosthetic support element, wherein the second seal annular outer perimeter portion is configured for attachment to the elongated protective cover at the second end, wherein the second seal annular middle portion is configured to flex to accommodate tilting of the elongated protective cover relative to the elongated prosthetic support element.
2 more elements
A method of covering an elongated prosthetic support element of a prosthesis, the method comprising:
- receiving an elongated protective cover with a first end and a second end, wherein the elongated protective cover is sized to fit around a surround, extend along, and accommodate the elongated prosthetic support element, and wherein the elongated prosthetic support element comprises a first end portion and a second end portion;
- receiving a first flexible end seal comprising a first seal annular inner perimeter portion, a first seal annular outer perimeter portion that is radially offset from and circumferentially surrounds the first seal annular inner perimeter portion, and a first seal annular middle portion that connects the first seal annular inner perimeter portion and the first seal annular outer perimeter portion, wherein the first seal annular inner perimeter portion defines a first seal inner opening therethrough that is sized to receive the first end portion of the elongated prosthetic support element and is configured for attachment to the first end portion of the elongated prosthetic support element, wherein the first seal annular outer perimeter portion is configured for attachment to the elongated protective cover at the first end, and wherein the first seal annular middle portion is configured to flex to accommodate tilting of the elongated protective cover relative to the elongated prosthetic support element;
- receiving a second flexible end seal comprising a second seal annular inner perimeter portion, a second seal annular outer perimeter portion that is radially offset from and circumferentially surrounds the second seal annular inner perimeter portion, and a second seal annular middle portion that connects the second seal annular inner perimeter portion and the second seal annular outer perimeter portion, wherein the second seal annular inner perimeter portion defines a second seal inner opening therethrough that is sized to receive the second end portion of the elongated prosthetic support element and is configured for attachment to the second end portion of the elongated prosthetic support element, wherein the second seal annular outer perimeter portion is configured for attachment to the elongated protective cover at the second end, and wherein the second seal annular middle portion is configured to flex to accommodate tilting of the elongated protective cover relative to the elongated prosthetic support element;
- attaching the first flexible end seal to the elongated prosthetic support element by attaching the first seal annular inner perimeter portion to the first end portion of the elongated prosthetic support element;
- attaching the first flexible end seal to the elongated protective cover by attaching the first seal annular outer perimeter portion to the first end of the elongated protective cover;
- attaching the second flexible end seal to the elongated prosthetic support element by attaching the second seal annular inner perimeter portion to the second end portion of the elongated prosthetic support element;
- and
- attaching the second flexible end seal to the elongated protective cover by attaching the second seal annular outer perimeter portion to the second end of the elongated protective cover.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.