Motorized adjustable socket for amputee prosthesis users and methods for use thereof

An apparatus for automatically adjusting a socket size of a prosthesis, the apparatus comprising:

• the prosthesis having a socket configured to receive a liner arranged over a limb;
• a first opening in a wall of the socket;
• a first panel aligned with the first opening, wherein the first panel includes a first side and a second side opposite the first side;
• a first actuator coupled to the first panel and to the prosthesis, wherein the first actuator includes (i) a frame coupled to the prosthesis via a plurality of supports, wherein the frame is coupled to an electric motor, (ii) a lead screw coupled at a first end to the electric motor and rotatably coupled at a second end to the frame, (iii) at least one travel nut coupled to the lead screw, and (iv) a plurality of linkages coupled to the at least one travel nut and to the first panel, wherein the plurality of linkages translate linear movement of the at least one travel nut along the lead screw into radial movement to advance and retract the first panel, wherein the first actuator is coupled to the first panel between the first side and the second side such that no components of the apparatus contact either the first side of the panel or the second side of the panel, and wherein the first actuator is configured to advance and retract the first panel through the first opening;
• a first sensor coupled to the wall of the socket, wherein the first sensor comprises an inductive sensor, and wherein the first sensor is configured to obtain limb-to-socket gap data corresponding to a distance between a magnetic target positioned in a liner positioned over at least a portion of the limb and the first sensor;
• a second sensor coupled to the socket wall and configured to obtain the limb-to-socket gap data, wherein the second sensor is an inductive sensor, and wherein the second sensor is arranged at an anterior mid-limb location, a posterior-lateral mid-limb location, an anterior-distal location, a posterior-distal location, or an anterior-proximal location;
• and
• a processor communicatively coupled to the first actuator and to the first sensor and the second sensor, wherein the processor is configured (i) to receive the limb-to-socket gap data, (ii) to determine a socket-size adjustment based on the limb-to-socket gap data and a predetermined socket-fit value, (iii) to generate a command with the socket-size adjustment, and (iv) to send the command with the socket-size adjustment to the first actuator to advance or retract the first panel through the first opening.