Improved method for aiding the manufacture of a limb prosthesis socket from a provisional prosthesis and system implementing the method

A system for aiding the manufacture of a limb-prosthesis socket from a provisional prosthesis, the provisional prosthesis comprising a provisional socket configured to be fitted on a residual limb, and an artificial limb, the artificial limb comprising an artificial end part and a connection element between the artificial end part and the provisional socket as well as an adjustable first so-called “distal fixing” assembly, lockable in position, between the artificial end part and the connection element, and a second so-called “proximal fixing” assembly between said connection element and the provisional socket, to implement conjointly an adjustment and a locking in position of the artificial end part and of the connection element, the system comprising mechanical and electromechanical means as well as electronic circuits configured to:

• after a reference setting of the distal fixing has been determined defining a relative position of the interior surface of the provisional socket with respect to a first reference point of the artificial part when the artificial end part is positioned in a predetermined reference position, in a first reference space defined according to three directions orthogonal to each other:
• positioning said socket, coupled to the connection element, in a second reference space defined with respect to said three directions and with respect to a second reference point representing, in the second reference space, said first reference point of the first reference space so that the position of the socket with respect to the first reference point in said first reference space coincides with the position of the socket with respect to the second reference point in said second reference space,
• determining, by a control unit and a distance-measuring device operating in the second reference space, a three-dimensional model representing the interior surface of the provisional socket, and each point of which is defined by coordinates in the second reference space, the three-dimensional model being recorded in the form of a set of information, according to a predetermined format,
• manufacturing a second socket referred to as the “final socket” from said three-dimensional model determined.