The present disclosure relates generally to prosthetic devices, and more particularly, to a radial volume adjustment device.
Many people each year may lose a limb due to any of a variety of causes, including accident, military service, medical necessity, osteosarcoma, diabetes, or any other of a variety of reasons. This may be a particular problem in areas of the world in which advanced medical care may not be readily available.
For individuals with a lost limb, a prosthetic limb may be utilized to compensate for the loss of the limb. For example, a prosthetic leg may be used both to facilitate walking and for aesthetic reasons. Prosthetics may have a socket to interface with the residual limb of a patient.
Residual limb volume may vary for patients with prosthetic limbs. For example, some studies suggest that limb volume may change between −11% and 7% in a single day due to changing activity level and weight. Volume changes of only 3% to 5% may cause a patient to have difficulty in attaching the prosthetic socket. Some volume and/or size changes to a residual limb may be caused by normal growth in children. For example, a tibia may change on average 22.02 millimeters (mm) per year for boys and 19.81 mm per year for girls between the ages of ten and seventeen. Additionally, between the ages of two and ten, an average girl gains 3.65 kilograms (kg) per year and an average boy gains 3.25 kg per year. For many young patients, this may mean that a new prosthetic is required every year at least until the age of five. Thus, there is a need in the art for an improved prosthetic socket.
In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, a radial volume adjustment device is disclosed. The socket includes a spacer plate with one or more channels forming an arcuate path curving towards a center of the adjustment spacer. The socket further includes an adjustment spacer consisting of a plurality of sections. The socket further includes at least one attachment member configured to couple with the spacer plate and pass through the at least one channel such that the at least one adjustment spacer section may move in a path defined by the at least one attachment member and the at least one channel. The movement of the at least one attachment member causes the sections to move inwardly and outwardly in the radial direction relative to the spacer plate. The socket further includes a plurality of socket wall components coupled to the adjustment spacer sections. The adjustment of the adjustment spacer sections causes a volume defined by the plurality of socket wall components to change.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure, a radial volume adjustment device is disclosed. The device includes a connection plate. The device further includes a socket wall comprising a plurality of socket wall components, at least one of the plurality of socket wall components comprising a channel, the channel forming an arcuate path curving towards a center of the connection plate. The device further includes at least one attachment member configured to couple with the connection plate and pass through the at least one channel such that the at least one socket wall component may move in a path defined by the at least one attachment member and the channel. The movement of the at least one attachment member causes a volume defined by the socket wall to change.
In accordance with a further embodiment of the present disclosure, a method of manufacturing a radial volume adjustment device is disclosed. The method includes creating a mold of a residual limb. The method further includes crafting a plurality of socket wall components using the mold of the residual limb. The method further includes inserting a channel in the plurality of socket wall components. The channel forms an arcuate path curving towards the center of the socket base. The method further includes connecting the plurality of socket wall components to a socket base to form a radial volume adjustment device, wherein the movement of the at least one socket wall component causes a volume defined by the plurality of socket wall components to change.
A more complete understanding of the disclosed embodiments and advantages thereof may be acquired by referring to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numbers indicate like features, and wherein:
The present disclosure relates to an adjustable socket for a prosthetic limb. A socket base comprising a spacing plate and an adjustment spacer may be configured to rotate relative to each other, while remaining substantially parallel. This rotation may cause an internal volume of the socket to vary by causing a socket wall coupled with the socket base to change its radial position relative to the center of the socket.
Adjustment spacer 210 may be made of any suitable material of sufficient strength to support the weight of a patient and any forces that may be generated by utilization of the prosthetic. For example, adjustment spacer 210 may be made of steel, stainless steel, titanium, hard plastics, or any other suitable material. Attachment member 230 may include a nut and bolt, screw, peg, or any other suitable mechanical component configured to couple spacer plate 210 and adjustment spacer 220 while allowing movement of individual wings 215 relative to each other. Spacer plate 220 may be made of any suitable material of sufficient strength to support the weight of a patient and any forces that may be generated by utilization of the prosthetic. For example, spacer plate 220 may be made of steel, stainless steel, titanium, hard plastics, or any other suitable material.
Individual wings 215 of adjustment spacer 210 may be attached, coupled, or joined in any of a variety of ways such that individual wings 215 may move relative to each other in a coordinate plane substantially parallel with the face of adjustment spacer 210, without substantially moving from that plane. Alternatively, in some embodiments, individual wings 215 may not be coupled in any way, and may merely overlap one another to form adjustment spacer 210. For example, as shown in
Described in an alternative way, adjustment spacer 210 and spacer plate 220 may be rotated relative to each other such that the faces of the two components remain substantially parallel. While rotating relative to each other, attachment members 230 and channels 225 may cause individual wings 215 to extend from or contract towards the center of adjustment spacer 210 while moving radially relative to spacer plate 220.
In some embodiments, attachment members 230 may be loosened before adjustment spacer 210 and spacer plate 220 are rotated relative to each other. Once the desired degree of expansion of adjustment spacer 210 is reached, attachment members 230 may be tightened to prevent rotation of adjustment spacer 210 and spacer plate 220 relative to each other.
Socket wall 710 may be made of any of a variety of materials. The material should be of sufficient strength to support attachment of prosthetic socket 700 to a patient's residual limb, but should preferably be light and at least slightly flexible. For example, a sturdy plastic or composite material may be used. Additionally, carbon fibers with some sort of binding agent or laminating agent may be used.
In some embodiments, socket wall components 715 may be coupled with individual wings 215 such that when a particular individual wing 215 moves, the respective socket wall component 715 also moves. Socket wall components 715 may overlap one another with sufficient overlap such that as individual wings 215 are moved, a gap is not created in a majority of socket wall 710 as socket wall components 715 slide past each other. For example, a gap may occur below pad 720 but overlap may prevent a gap from occurring at and above pad 720 in socket wall 710. In some embodiments, a gap is prevented from all possible positions of individual wings 215, that is, socket wall components 715 overlap from the most contracted position of adjustment spacer 210 to the most expanded position of adjustment spacer 210.
As can be appreciated, as adjustment spacer 210 is rotated relative to spacer plate 220, the volume enclosed by socket wall 710 may be varied with the corresponding radial expansion of adjustment spacer 210. This variation in volume may allow for a more comfortable and more appropriate fit for a patient with respective changes in volume to their residual limb.
As an illustrative example, and in no way limiting, a vertical height of adjustment spacer 210 and spacer plate 220 may be one inch and spacer plate 220 may be four and a half inches across. From the most contracted position to the most expanded position, adjustment spacer 210 may experience a 0.4 inch radial expansion. This may correspond to a total volume change of approximately 30%, or in other words, if starting from the middle position (as shown in
As described with respect to prosthetic socket 700 as discussed with respect to
In some embodiments, to form socket wall components 825, a mold of a patient's residual limb may be created. The mold may be used as a model for crafting socket wall components 825. For example, as shown in
The internal volume defined by socket wall 810 may be modified using channels 1125, attachment members 1230, and connection plate 1210. For example, by loosening attachment member 1230a, corresponding socket wall component 825a may be rotated such that engaging member 1230a remains in channel 1125a. As this occurs, socket wall component 825a slides by socket wall components 825b and 825d. Because of the arcuate path of channel 1125a, not only does socket wall component 825a move around the center of connection plate 1210, but it also moves in towards or away from the center of connection plate 1210. By moving socket wall component 825a along the path defined by channel 1125a and attachment member 1230a, and corresponding motion by socket wall components 825b-825d, the volume defined by socket wall 820 may be modified. In this way, the volume may be modified in a comparable manner to that observed with respect to the movement of individual wings 215 with socket wall components 715 coupled thereto. For example, a comparable volume difference of approximately 30% may be observed by moving socket wall components 825 from one end of channels 1125 to the other.
The embodiment shown in
In some embodiments, socket wall components 1425 may include channels (not shown) to facilitate rotation of socket wall components 1425 resulting in radial expansion or contraction of socket wall components 1425. These channels may have an arcuate path curving towards the middle of connection plate 1410. In some embodiments, socket wall components 1425 and/or the channels therein may be similar or identical those of the embodiment shown in
The internal volume defined by socket wall components 1425 may be modified using the channels, attachment members 1430, and connection plate 1410. For example, by loosening attachment members 1430, socket wall components 1425 may be rotated such that engaging members 1430 remain in the channels. As this occurs, socket wall components 1425 may slide by other socket wall components 1425. Because of the arcuate path of the channels, not only do socket wall components 1425 move around the center of connection plate 1410, but they also move in towards or away from the center of connection plate 1410 as it is moved. By moving socket wall components 1425 along the path defined by the channels and attachment members 1430, and corresponding motion by socket wall components 1425, the volume defined by socket wall components 1425 may be modified. In this way, the volume may be modified in a comparable manner to that observed with respect to the movement of individual wings 215 as shown in
In some embodiments, supporting members may be placed at various places around the socket to brace or strengthen the socket. For example, a hose clamp may be placed around the bottom of the socket to strengthen the socket. Alternatively, other types of reinforcement or bracing components or members may be used in a variety of places to strengthen the socket.
In some embodiments, design or aesthetic considerations as well as comfort considerations may be taken into account for the design of the socket. For example, the socket base may be sized such that it will fit within a typical pant leg. In some embodiments, an adjustment spacer and/or spacer plate may be sized such that the combination will not extend beyond a traditional socket. In other embodiments, an adjustment spacer may be sized to extend slightly beyond a spacer plate. In some embodiments, there may be a tradeoff between the amount of bulk in the socket base and the amount of radial expansion or contraction that is available. For example, a larger socket base may be used to allow for greater changes in volume, but this may correspond to a larger and/or heavier socket base.
In some embodiments, the weight of various components within a socket and/or socket base may be controlled to prevent the socket from becoming too heavy. For example, in some embodiments the modification from traditional sockets may only increase the weight by approximately 5% or 10%. In some embodiments a socket and/or a socket base may be five pounds or less. In other embodiments, it may be approximately five pounds.
In some embodiments, gel inserts may be placed over some, substantially all, or all of the internal volume of a socket wall. This gel insert may be of varying depths such that minor variations of volume may be inconsequential. This may also facilitate a more comfortable fit for a patient. The gel may be made of any of a variety of gels, including foams, liquid gels beneath a surface layer, or any combinations thereof. The use of gel inserts may also facilitate changes in shape of the residual limb, in addition to changes in volume.
While a variety of examples have been provided and described, it will be appreciated that none of the examples is intended to be limiting. Rather, the examples are provided merely for illustrative purposes to provide assistance in understanding the present disclosure.
Although the present disclosure has been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions, and alterations can be made hereto without departing from the spirit and the scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/US2014/032015 | 3/27/2014 | WO | 00 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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61805811 | Mar 2013 | US |