Prosthetic device, system and method for increasing vacuum attachment

A prosthetic system comprising:

• a prosthetic foot including a foot plate defining an upper surface and having a flexible configuration;
• a prosthetic socket connected to the prosthetic foot;
• and
• a pump system in fluid communication with the prosthetic socket and attached to the prosthetic foot, the pump system including a pump mechanism defining a fluid chamber having a variable configuration and an actuating part, the actuating part arranged to selectively engage with the foot plate by coming into contact with the foot plate, and separate a distance from the upper surface of the foot plate by moving away from the foot plate to move the pump mechanism between a first position in which a volume of the fluid chamber is zero or near-zero and a second position in which the volume of the fluid chamber is expanded relative to the first position to draw fluid into the fluid chamber from the prosthetic socket,
• wherein the volume of the fluid chamber increases when the actuating part moves away from the upper surface of the foot plate;
• wherein the volume of the fluid chamber increases as the prosthetic foot moves from a heel strike toward a foot strike.

A prosthetic device comprising:

• a prosthetic foot with a movable member extending over an anterior surface of the prosthetic foot, the movable member having an attached end connected to the prosthetic foot and an unattached end disconnected from the prosthetic foot;
• and
• a pump mechanism having opposite first and second sides and at least one side wall surrounding an internal fluid chamber;
• wherein the pump mechanism is positioned between the movable member and the anterior surface of the prosthetic foot;
• wherein the movable member follows a curvature of the anterior surface of the prosthetic foot;
• wherein a clearance between the movable member and the anterior surface of the prosthetic foot gradually increases from the attached end toward the unattached end;
• wherein the first side of the pump mechanism is attached to the movable member and the second side of the pump mechanism is attached to the anterior surface of the prosthetic foot;
• wherein the pump mechanism is formed of an elastomeric material and configured to stretch when opposing forces are applied to the first and second sides of the pump mechanism;
• wherein the unattached end of the movable member is configured to move away from the anterior surface of the prosthetic foot during a heel strike event and is further configured to pull the first side of the pump mechanism in an anterior direction and increase a volume of the internal fluid chamber of the pump mechanism;
• wherein the unattached end of the movable member is configured to move toward the anterior surface of the prosthetic foot during a stance phase event or a toe-off event and is further configured to push the first side of the pump mechanism in a posterior direction and decrease the volume of the internal fluid chamber;
• and
• wherein the movable member comprises a first piece and a second piece connected at a non-pivoting joint, the first piece being secured to the anterior surface of the prosthetic foot and the second piece being secured to the pump mechanism.

A prosthetic system comprising:

• a prosthetic foot including a movable member extending over an anterior surface of the prosthetic foot, the movable member having an attached end connected to the prosthetic foot and an unattached end disconnected from the prosthetic foot;
• a connector secured to a proximal end of the prosthetic foot and configured to couple the proximal end of the prosthetic foot to a socket;
• a pump mechanism having opposite first and second sides and at least one side wall surrounding an internal fluid chamber;
• and
• wherein the pump mechanism is positioned between the movable member and the anterior surface of the prosthetic foot;
• wherein the movable member follows a curvature of the anterior surface of the prosthetic foot;
• wherein a clearance between the movable member and the anterior surface of the prosthetic foot gradually increases from the attached end toward the unattached end;
• wherein the first side of the pump mechanism is attached to the movable member and the second side of the pump mechanism is attached to the anterior surface of the prosthetic foot;
• wherein the pump mechanism is configured to stretch when opposing forces are applied to the first and second sides of the pump mechanism;
• wherein the unattached end of the movable member is configured to move away from the anterior surface of the prosthetic foot during a heel strike event and is further configured to pull the first side of the pump mechanism in an anterior direction and increase a volume of the internal fluid chamber of the pump mechanism;
• wherein the unattached end of the movable member is configured to move toward the anterior surface of the prosthetic foot during a stance phase event or a toe-off event and is further configured to push the first side of the pump mechanism in a posterior direction and decrease the volume of the internal fluid chamber;
• and
• wherein the movable member comprises a first piece and a second piece connected at a non-pivoting joint, the first piece being secured to the anterior surface of the prosthetic foot and the second piece being secured to the pump mechanism.