Interchangeable local interface prosthetic socket apparatus and system

A variable interface lower-limb prosthetic socket apparatus comprising:

• a 3D printed socket comprising an interior portion and an exterior portion defining a socket wall therebetween, the socket wall extending from an upper perimeter, defining a proximal opening of the interior portion, to a lower perimeter defining a distal plane, the distal plane defining a circumference, the 3D printed socket being configured according to a digital scan of a residual lower limb such that an interior surface of the interior portion mimics a surface of the residual lower limb, the 3D printed socket being constructed from a plurality of stratified layers;
• a panel window being disposed on the 3D printed socket, the panel window comprising side walls extending from the interior portion of the 3D printed socket to the exterior portion of the 3D printed socket to define an aperture through the socket wall, the panel window having at least one panel interface portion;
• at least one interface panel being removably coupled to the panel window via the at least one panel interface portion, the at least one interface panel being operably configured to define one or more support, pressure, and comfort characteristics of the 3D printed socket;
• and,
• a distal cup being mateably coupled to a distal interface portion of the 3D printed socket such that the distal cup is configured to be selectively installed or removed from the distal interface portion of the 3D printed socket by the user, the distal cup having an upper surface configured to mimic a distal surface of a residual limb of a user, and a lower surface configured to interface with the distal interface portion of the 3D printed socket.

A modular lower-limb prosthetic system for interchangeable local interface support, the modular lower-limb prosthetic system comprising:

• a 3D printed socket comprising an interior portion and an exterior portion defining a socket wall therebetween, the socket wall extending from an upper perimeter, defining a proximal opening of the interior portion, to a lower perimeter defining a distal plane, the distal plane defining a circumference, the 3D printed socket being configured according to a digital scan of a residual lower limb such that the interior surface of the socket wall mimics a surface of the residual lower limb, the 3D printed socket being constructed from a plurality of stratified layers;
• a panel window being disposed on the 3D printed socket, the panel window comprising side walls extending from the interior portion of the 3D printed socket to the exterior portion of the 3D printed socket to define an aperture through the socket wall, the panel window having at least one panel interface portion being disposed at least one of the side walls;
• a first interface panel being removably coupled to the panel window, the first interface panel having at least one panel window interface portion being removably engaged with the at least one panel interface portion;
• a first distal cup being removably coupled to a distal interface portion of the 3D printed socket, the first distal cup having an upper surface configured to mimic a distal surface of a residual limb of a user, and a lower surface configured to interface with the distal interface portion of the 3D printed socket;
• a second interface panel being configured to be removably coupled to the panel window in place of the first interface panel, the second interface panel having at least one panel window interface portion being removably engaged with the at least one panel interface portion;
• and,
• a second distal cup being configured to be removably coupled to a distal interface portion of the 3D printed socket in place of the first distal cup, the second distal cup having an upper surface configured to mimic a distal surface of a residual limb of a user, and a lower surface configured to interface with the distal interface portion of the 3D printed socket.