Dilatancy in an adjustable prosthesis
AssigneeRehabilitation Institute of Chicago
InventorsAnna Atkins, Shenan Hoppe-Ludwig
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An adjustable prosthetic device includes: at least one socket configured to be coupled with a prosthetic foot and defining a space for receiving a residual limb of a patient; a dilatancy pouch disposed within the rigid housing and comprising a fabric material filled with a filler material; and a sealing interface disposed onto the residual limb. The pouch is disposed over the sealing interface such that the sealing interface seals the pouch between the socket and the sealing interface. When a vacuum is applied to the pouch, the pouch becomes rigid within the volume defined between the socket and the sealing interface.
Claims17
An adjustable prosthesis comprising:
- a first component defining a height of the prosthesis;
- a second component coupled with the first component, the second component comprising a socket for receiving therein a residual limb of a patient;
- and
- a third component positioned within the socket, wherein a volume of the third component is adjustable to accommodate the residual limb.
An adjustable prosthesis comprising:
- a pylon having a manually adjustable height component for changing a height of the prosthesis;
- a socket coupled with the pylon, the socket defining a space for receiving therein a residual limb of a patient, the socket comprising a rigid housing having a one-way valve;
- a dilatancy pouch disposed within the rigid housing and comprising a fabric material filled with a filler material;
- and
- a sealing interface configured to be disposed onto the residual limb and, wherein the pouch is disposed over the sealing interface such that the sealing interface is configured to seal the pouch between the socket and the sealing interface;
- wherein, when a vacuum is applied to the pouch via the one-way valve of the rigid housing, the pouch expands to occupy a volume defined between the socket and the sealing interface.
A method of securing an adjustable prosthesis on a residual limb of a patient for aquatic therapy, the method comprising:
- disposing a sealing interface onto the residual limb;
- disposing a pouch over the sealing interface, the pouch comprising a fabric material filled with a filler material;
- inserting the residual limb into a socket of the prosthesis, such that the sealing interface seals the pouch between the socket and the sealing interface;
- and
- applying a vacuum to the pouch to expand the pouch to occupy a volume defined between the socket and the sealing interface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.