Prosthetic limb sockets and methods of making and using
AssigneeMedical Creations, Inc.
InventorMark Joseph
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims23
-11. (canceled)
A method for forming a prosthetic socket to a residual limb, comprising:
- heating the prosthetic socket comprising a conical cup region having a first pliability at a first temperature range from about 70° C. and 150° C. and a lower portion region which is configured to connect to a prosthetic limb, wherein the lower portion has a second pliability at a second temperature range which is different than the first pliability a the first temperature range;
- and
- stretching at least a portion of the conical cup of the prosthetic socket over the at least a portion of the residual limb.
(canceled)
A method of using a prosthetic socket, comprising the steps of:
- providing a prosthetic socket comprising a conical cup having a first end having an opening for receiving a portion of a prosthetic limb, a second end that is substantially closed, and a lower portion, wherein the conical cup comprises a first pliability at a first temperature, and wherein the lower portion comprises a second pliability at a second temperature, wherein the first temperature and the second temperature are different;
- differentially heating the prosthetic socket by heating the conical cup to a temperature in range from about 70° C. and to about 150° C. and simultaneously not heating the lower portion of the prosthetic such that the lower portion is at or near a room temperature;
- and
- stretching at least a portion of the heated prosthetic socket over at least a portion of the residual limb.
A method of fitting a prosthetic socket to a patient having a residual limb, comprising the steps of:
- providing a first prosthetic socket having a first size, the first prosthetic socket comprising a first conical cup having a first conical cup end having a first conical cup opening for receiving a portion of a prosthetic limb, a second conical cup end that is substantially closed, and a first lower portion, wherein the first conical cup comprises a first circumference that is smaller than a circumference of the residual limb;
- providing a second prosthetic socket having a second size, the second prosthetic socket comprising a second conical cup having a second conical cup end having a second conical cup opening for receiving a portion of a prosthetic limb, a second conical cup end that is substantially closed, and a second lower portion, wherein the second conical cup comprises a second circumference that is smaller than a circumference of the residual limb, wherein the first size is different than the second size;
- selecting between the first prosthetic socket and the second prosthetic socket based on one or more of:
- (i) information indicative of the first size, (ii) information indicative of the second size, (iii) information obtained from a sizing aid, and (iv) characteristics of the residual limb;
- heating the selected prosthetic socket to a temperature in range from about 70° C. and to about 150° C.;
- and
- stretching the heated selected prosthetic socket over at least a portion of the residual limb or the mold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.