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US 2019/0274850 A1Published application
Prosthetic limb sockets and methods of making and using
AssigneeMedical Creations, Inc.
InventorMark Joseph
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present disclosure is directed to prosthetic limb sockets that couple prosthetic limbs to residual limbs. The sockets include a conical cup sized to engage and couple to the residual limb, and a base to secure the socket to the prosthetic limb. The sockets are direct heat-formable onto the residual limb, such that they can be heated and formed as they are secured to the residual limb.
Claims20
A prosthetic limb socket comprising;
- a conical cup comprising a material having a first pliability at between about 70° C. and 150° C. to be stretched circumferentially over a residual limb;
- and
- a lower portion coupled to a lower surface of the conical cup creating an enclosed form having a second pliability which is less than the first pliability;
- wherein the conical cup and the lower portion are injection molded of a thermoplastic polymer, and
- wherein the conical cup and the lower portion, when heated to between about 70° C. and 150° C. have a working time of between about five minutes and about 15 minutes before hardening as room temperature is approached.
2 more elements
A method for securing a prosthetic limb socket to a residual limb comprising:
- heating a socket comprising a conical cup having a first pliability between about 70° C. and 150° C. and a lower portion coupled to the conical cup which connects to a prosthetic limb, wherein the lower portion has a second pliability;
- and
- stretching the conical cup of the socket over the residual limb.
A pre-made thermoplastic prosthetic socket comprising;
- a conical cup comprising a circumference less than a circumference of a residual limb;
- and
- a lower portion positioned below and coupled to the conical cup, wherein the lower portion comprises a base positioned at an opposite end of the lower portion from the conical cup;
- wherein the conical cup and the lower portion are unitarily formed via injection molding,
- wherein the conical cup and the lower portion comprise a thermoplastic polymer that is stretchable at between 70° C. and 150° C.,
- wherein the base comprises an attachment mechanism to couple the base to a prosthetic limb,
- wherein at least one of the conical cup and the lower portion, when heated to between 70° C. and 150° C., have a working time of between 5 minutes and 15 minutes before hardening, and
- wherein at least one of the conical cup and the lower portion comprise a hardness exceeding ASTM D2240 of 50D shore hardness, a tensile strength exceeding ASTM D638 5,000 psi, and a flexural modulus exceeding ASTM D5023 of 150,000 psi.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.