Vacuum-assisted liner system

A vacuum-assisted suspension device for a limb prosthesis or orthosis, comprising:

• an air-impermeable outer wall member shaped to receive a human body portion;
• a flexible inner liner to be fitted over the body portion and having at least one peripheral edge, the liner being made of a material impermeable to air but having a section which is porous to allow transmission of air and moisture between an outer surface and an inner surface of the liner;
• and
• a porous distribution layer sandwiched between the material of the liner and an inner surface of the wall member and adapted to allow transmission of air and moisture transversely over the said outer surface of the liner;
• the wall member having at least one air evacuation port to allow evacuation of air from the distribution layer.

A suspension device for a limb prosthesis or orthosis, comprising:

• a hollow air-impermeable outer wall member shaped to receive a human limb portion;
• and
• a flexible inner liner to be fitted over the limb portion and having at least one peripheral edge, the liner being made of a material impermeable to air but having at least one porous section spaced from the or each peripheral edge to allow transmission of air and moisture between an outer surface and an inner surface of the liner;
• the wall member having at least one air evacuation port to allow evacuation of air from between an inner surface of the wall member and an outer surface of the liner;
• wherein the wall member is shaped and sized so as to cover the porous section of the liner and to extend beyond the latter to engage and seal against the outer surface of the liner between the porous section thereof and the peripheral edge or edges of the liner to form, in use, a sealed enclosure between the wall member and the body limb portion, the enclosure including the liner porous section, such that when air is evacuated from the sealed enclosure via the evacuation port, the wall member is secured to the liner.