Vacuum pump and shock absorber for artificial limb

#The present invention relates to prosthetic devices and more particularly to various embodiments of a vacuum pump and shock absorber for an artificial limb.

#An amputee is a person who has lost part of an extremity or limb such as a leg or arm which commonly may be termed as a residual limb. Residual limbs come in various sizes and shapes with respect to the stump. That is, most new amputations are either slightly bulbous or cylindrical in shape while older amputations that may have had a lot of atrophy are generally more conical in shape. Residual limbs may further be characterized by their various individual problems or configurations including the volume and shape of a stump and possible scar, skin graft, bony prominence, uneven limb volume, neuroma, pain, edema or soft tissue configurations.

#Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a below the knee residual limb 10 is shown and described as a leg 12 having been severed below the knee terminating in a stump 14. In this case, the residual limb 10 includes soft tissue as well as the femur 16, knee joint 18, and severed tibia 20 and fibula 22. Along these bone structures surrounded by soft tissue are nerve bundles and vascular routes which must be protected against external pressure to avoid neuromas, numbness and discomfort as well as other kinds of problems. A below the knee residual limb 10 has its stump 14 generally characterized as being a more bony structure while an above the knee residual limb may be characterized as including more soft tissue as well as the vascular routes and nerve bundles.

#FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the tissue and skeletal structure of an amputee's residual limb;

#FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a residual limb in the form of an amputated arm showing the skeletal and muscular structure of the residual limb;

#FIG. 3 is an exploded elevational view of the residual limb donning the polyurethane sleeve, stretchable nylon sleeve, liner, nylon sheath and socket of an artificial limb;

#FIG. 3 shows a hypobarically-controlled artificial limb 50. The hypobarically-controlled artificial limb 50 includes an outer socket 52, shin 54, and foot 56. The outer socket 52 has a volume and shape to receive a substantial portion of the residual limb 14 with a space 58 therebetween.

#A first embodiment of the hypobarically-controlled artificial limb 50 is shown in FIG. 4. The hypobarically-controlled artificial limb 50 further includes a flexible inner socket 60 with a cavity 62 with a volume and shape for receiving a substantial portion of the residual limb 14 and fitting in the space 58 between the outer socket 52 and the residual limb 14. The inner socket 60 has an inner surface 64 opposing the residual limb 14 and an outer surface 66 opposing the outer socket 52.

#A vacuum source 70 may conveniently be attached to the shin or pylon 54. The vacuum source 70 may preferably be a mechanical or motor-driven pump 72. The vacuum source 70 is connected to a power source 83, which may be a battery.