US 5,258,037 A · Prosthetic liner and method of making the liner with a prosthesis socket

Abstract

A visco-elastic polymer liner for use in donning over a residual limb and fitting within the socket of an artificial limb. The liner is shaped to have its cavity formed with a volume and shape less than a volume and shape of the residual limb for both tension and tissue configuration relief while the liner has an outer surface formed with a volume and shape greater than the volume and shape of the artificial limb socket for relief of certain tissue configurations and to create weight bearing, relief and compression areas on and in the liner to absorb and dissipate shock, shear and mechanical forces through the liner otherwise transmitted to the residual limb. The liner may have imbedded on its inner cavity side electrodes adjacent muscles that are sensitive to the muscle action potentials to generate signals to a power source to move an articulable artificial limb. The liner may take the shape of a tube to be donned over a paralyzed limb similarly having electrodes imbedded in its inner cavity side adjacent neuromuscular junctions which are connected to a muscle action potential generator to activate flexion and extension of the paralyzed limb. A method for making the liner is also claimed which comprises the making of a positive model of the residual limb, reducing the model, forming the liner about the reduced model and laminating a hard socket over a reduced model of the liner.

Claims10

Dependent claims

An artificial limb for an amputee that has a residual limb, the artificial limb comprising a socket for receiving a stump and part of the residual limb and a nonporous polyurethane elastomer socket liner comprised of predetermined mixed amounts of nonfoaming isocyanates and alcohols where the liner will stretch, move and creep while having a memory to return to its original shape and the liner has a cavity with a volume and shape for receiving a substantial portion of the residual limb, the liner being tensional as to tack up over and about the residual limb into a total contact relationship to provide hypobaric suction between the residual limb and the liner and suspension for the artificial limb, to control residual limb volume and perspiration, to absorb and dissipate shock, shear and mechanical forces, to provide equal weight distribution to the residual limb for extended comfortable wear and increased mobility for the amputee and which permits additional buildup and removal of liner portions and is durable for long wear and cleanable with soap and water for long life of the liner.

A prosthesis for an amputee that has a residual limb, the prosthesis comprises:

(a) an artificial limb having a socket with a volume and shape to receive a substantial portion of the residual limb with a space therebetween;
and
(b) a visco-elastic, energy absorbing, flexible, nonporous polyurethane elastomer liner comprised of predetermined mixed amounts of nonfoaming isocyanates and alcohols where the liner will stretch, move and creep while having a memory, is durable for long wear and cleanable with soap and water for long life, the liner having:
(i) a cavity with a volume and shape for receiving the substantial portion of the residual limb and thereafter the liner fitting into the space between the socket and the residual limb, the liner being tensional to tack up over the residual limb into a total contact relationship, to provide hypobaric suction and suspension between the residual limb and the artificial limb and to control residual limb volume and perspiration;
and
(ii) an outer surface with a volume and shape greater than the volume and shape of the socket so that the socket and the liner create distribution of the amputee's weight about the substantial portion of the residual limb, provide relief and compression areas on and in the liner to absorb and dissipate shock, shear and mechanical forces by the liner otherwise transmitted to the residual limb and provide extended comfortable wear of the artificial limb and increased mobility for the amputee.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Prosthetic liner and method of making the liner with a prosthesis socket

Life of this patent

Prosthetic liner and method of making the liner with a prosthesis socket

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims10