Adjustable seal system, seal component and method for using the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11510793-B2
Application number	US-201816198427-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 21, 2018
Priority date	Nov 28, 2017
Publication date	Nov 29, 2022
Grant date	Nov 29, 2022

Abstract

An adjustable seal system includes a seal component having a body having an outer surface defining a socket sealing portion arranged to engage and form an airtight seal with an interior surface of a prosthetic socket. The inner surface of the body defines a liner sealing portion arranged to frictionally engage and seal with an outer surface of a prosthetic liner. The liner sealing portion defines a sealing length extending in a proximal direction from an end of the socket sealing portion and terminating at a proximal edge on the body. The length of the liner sealing portion is between about 25 mm and about 35 mm and is selected in relation to the socket sealing portion to vary tractions at the inner and outer surfaces of the seal component.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An adjustable seal system for providing an interface between a residual limb and a prosthetic socket, the adjustable seal system comprising:
a prosthetic liner adapted to provide the interface between the residual limb and the prosthetic socket, the prosthetic liner defining a longitudinal axis and at least one seal band extending radially outwardly from an outer surface of the prosthetic liner and relative to the longitudinal axis;
a seal component arranged for removably securing to the outer surface of the prosthetic liner and over the at least one seal band, the seal component including:
a body having open upper and lower ends and an inner surface defining an opening therethrough, and an outer surface opposite the inner surface;
a socket sealing portion on the outer surface of the body and arranged to engage and form an airtight seal with an interior surface of the prosthetic socket, the socket sealing portion arranged to extend distally of the at least one seal band relative to the longitudinal axis, the socket sealing portion defining at least one seal element formed on the outer surface of the body and extending radially outwardly therefrom relative to the longitudinal axis of the prosthetic liner, the socket sealing portion arranged to extend distally beyond the at least one seal band; and
a liner sealing portion on the inner surface of the body arranged to frictionally engage and seal with the outer surface of the prosthetic liner, the liner sealing portion defining a sealing length extending in a proximal direction from a distal end of the socket sealing portion and terminating at a proximal edge on the body, the sealing length of the liner sealing portion being between about 25 mm and about 35 mm and selected in relation to the socket sealing portion to vary traction at the inner and outer surfaces of the body of the seal component, the liner sealing portion is arranged to correspond and extend over the at least one seal band;
wherein the at least one seal element includes first and second seal elements formed on the outer surface of the body and radially protruding relative to an axis of the liner sealing portion and from a body profile of the body;
wherein at least one grip ring is formed on the body and extends circumferentially about the outer surface of the body, the at least one grip ring is located only in a gap defined between the first and second seal elements relative to the axis of the liner sealing portion;
wherein the at least one grip ring has a radially shorter configuration in relation to the first and second seal elements such that the first and second seal elements have a radially extending peak defined as an outermost portion of the first and second seal elements and extending beyond the at least one grip ring in a radial direction relative to the axis of the liner sealing portion;
wherein the at least one grip ring is configured to maintain a position of the radial peak of the first and second seal elements extending away from the body profile of the body when the first and second seal elements are deflected toward the body profile, the at least one grip ring is positioned in the gap such that as the peak of the first or second seal element resiliently deflects toward the body profile, a proximal section or a distal section of the first or second seal element engages the at least one of the grip ring before reaching the body profile, thereby maintaining the peak at a distance radially from the body profile.

2. The adjustable seal system of claim 1 , wherein the sealing length of the liner sealing portion is about 30 mm.

3. The adjustable seal system of claim 1 , wherein the sealing length of the liner sealing portion is between about 1.2 and 1.3 times greater than a sealing length of the socket sealing portion defined between the distal end of the socket sealing portion and the proximal edge on the body of the socket sealing portion.

4. The adjustable seal system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second seal elements define proximal and distal sections extending toward the body profile from the peak, the peaks of the first and second seal elements are parallel to one another.

5. The adjustable seal system of claim 4 , wherein the peak of the first and second seal elements is rounded.

6. The adjustable seal system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second seal elements have a height defined between the liner sealing portion and the peak thereof, and the at least one grip ring has a height defined between the body profile and an outer radial limit of the at least one grip ring, the height of the first and second seal elements is more than about 4 or about 5 times the height of the at least one grip ring.

7. The adjustable seal system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one grip ring is formed from a frictional material and has a rounded cross-sectional shape.

8. An adjustable seal system for providing an interface between a residual limb and a prosthetic socket, the adjustable seal system comprising:
a prosthetic liner adapted to provide the interface between the residual limb and the prosthetic socket, the prosthetic liner defining a longitudinal axis and at least one seal band extending radially outwardly from an outer surface of the prosthetic liner and relative to the longitudinal axis;
a seal component arranged for removably securing to the outer surface of the prosthetic liner and over the at least one seal band, the seal component including:
a body having open upper and lower ends and an inner surface defining an opening therethrough, and an outer surface opposite the inner surface;
a socket sealing portion on the outer surface of the body and arranged to engage and form an airtight seal with an interior surface of the prosthetic socket, the socket sealing portion arranged to extend distally of the at least one seal band relative to the longitudinal axis, the socket sealing portion defining at least one seal element formed on the outer surface of the body and extending radially outwardly therefrom relative to the longitudinal axis of the prosthetic liner, the socket sealing portion arranged to extend distally beyond the at least one seal band;
a liner sealing portion on the inner surface of the body proximal to the socket sealing portion and arranged to frictionally engage and seal on the outer surface of the prosthetic liner, the liner sealing portion defining a sealing length extending in a proximal direction from a distal end of the socket sealing portion on the body and terminating at the open upper end of the body, the sealing length of the liner sealing portion being between about 25 mm and about 35 mm and selected in relation to the socket sealing portion to vary traction at the inner and outer surfaces of the body of the seal component, the liner sealing portion is arranged to correspond and extend over the at least one seal band; and
a textile sleeve secured to the upper end of the body, the textile sleeve being more flexible and elastic than the body, and the textile sleeve having a diameter less than a diameter of the prosthetic liner proximal of the at least one seal band;
wherein the at least one seal element includes first and second seal elements formed on the outer surface of the body and radially protruding relative to an axis of the liner sealing portion and from a body profile of the body;
wherein at least one grip ring is formed on the body and extends circumferentially about the outer surface of the body, the at least one grip ring is located only in a gap defined between the first and second seal elements relative to the axis of the liner sealing portion;
wherein the at least one grip ring has a radially shorter configuration in relation to the first and second seal elemen

Assignees

• Ossur Iceland Ehf

Inventors

• Birgisdottir Linda Ros
• Storup Martin Lund
• Hringsdottir Hogna
• Cain Rowan

Classifications

• A61F2/7812 Primary

  Interface cushioning members placed between the limb stump and the socket, e.g. bandages or stockings for the limb stump · CPC title

• A61F2002/802

  Suction sockets, i.e. utilizing differential air pressure to retain the prosthesis on the stump · CPC title

• A61F2/80

  Sockets, e.g. of suction type · CPC title

• A61F2002/785

  Pads, e.g. relief pads · CPC title

• A61F2002/805

  having an air valve · CPC title