Prosthesis socket and method for controlling an adjustment of an inner circumference of a prosthesis socket

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11617667-B2
Application number	US-201716099618-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 8, 2017
Priority date	May 10, 2016
Publication date	Apr 4, 2023
Grant date	Apr 4, 2023

Abstract

A prosthesis socket having a proximal insertion opening and an inner circumference which at least partially surrounds a limb stump, at least one connection device for a prosthesis component, which is connectable to the prosthesis socket, at least one actuator operable to change the inner circumference of the prosthesis socket, and at least one sensor coupled to a control device, wherein the control device is connected to the actuator and activates or deactivates same, depending on the received sensor signals, and to a method for adjusting the inner circumference.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A prosthesis socket comprising:
a plurality of support elements movable apart from one another for opening the prosthesis socket, the plurality of support elements defining a proximal insertion opening and an inner circumference configured to at least partially surround a limb stump, wherein the plurality of support elements exerts a resilient reset force on the limb stump;
at least one connection device configured to connect a prosthesis component to the prosthesis socket;
a plurality of tensioning devices arranged in a proximal-distal direction and operable independent of each other, wherein the plurality of tensioning devices are spaced from each other in the proximal-distal direction, and wherein the plurality of tensioning devices acts against the resilient reset force of the plurality of support elements to move apart the plurality of support elements;
at least one actuator operable to actuate the plurality of tensioning devices to move apart the plurality of support elements and change the inner circumference of the prosthesis socket;
a control device connected to the at least one actuator;
at least one sensor coupled to the control device and operable to generate control signals, wherein the at least one sensor comprises an inertial sensor; and
wherein the control device activates or deactivates the at least one actuator depending on received sensor signals.

2. The prosthesis socket according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one actuator is designed as a drive for a pump, a sliding element, a lever, a winding device for traction members, a spreading element, a gear, a device for the activation of a shape memory alloy or of an electroactive polymer, or a switchable magnet.

3. The prosthesis socket according to claim 1 , further comprising a switch, a contact switch or a sensor for the detection of an introduced limb stump, the switch, contact switch or sensor being arranged in a distal end area of the prosthesis socket.

4. The prosthesis socket according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one of an internal pressure sensor and a motor current sensor configured for the acquisition of a pressure applied by a support element to the limb stump is arranged on a support element.

5. The prosthesis socket according to claim 1 , wherein the control device is configured to be controlled directly with a switch, by gesture control or by remote control.

6. The prosthesis socket according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor further comprises at least one of a position sensor, an angle sensor, an acceleration sensor, a pressure sensor, and a switch.

7. The prosthesis socket according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of tensioning devices comprises at least three tensioning devices spaced from each other in the proximal-distal direction.

8. A prosthesis socket comprising:
a plurality of support elements movable apart from one another for opening the prosthesis socket, the plurality of support elements defining a proximal insertion opening and an inner circumference which is configured to at least partially surround a limb stump, wherein the plurality of support elements exerts a resilient reset force on the limb stump;
at least one connection device for a prosthesis component, which is connectable to the prosthesis socket;
at least one motor operable to modify the inner circumference of the prosthesis socket by moving apart the plurality of support elements and changing the inner circumference of the prosthesis socket;
at least one inertial sensor operable to detect a position of the prosthesis socket in space;
at least one motor current sensor or pressure sensor operable to generate motor sensor signals related to applied pressure of the prosthetic socket on the limb stump; and
a plurality of tensioning devices arranged in a proximal-distal direction and operable independently of each other, wherein the plurality of tensioning devices are spaced from each other in the proximal-distal direction, and wherein the plurality of tensioning devices acts against the resilient reset force of the plurality of support elements to move apart the plurality of support elements.

9. The prosthesis socket according to claim 8 , wherein the prosthesis socket is designed in multiple parts with at least two support elements which are configured to receive the limb stump in between the at least two support elements.

10. The prosthesis socket according to claim 9 , wherein the at least two support elements are formed or mounted resiliently.

11. The prosthesis socket according to claim 9 , wherein the at least two support elements are designed to overlap one another in a circumferential direction.

12. The prosthesis socket according to claim 8 , wherein a volume which is changeable by the at least one motor is arranged or formed on the prosthesis socket.

13. The prosthesis socket according to claim 8 , wherein the plurality of tensioning devices are configured to change the inner circumference.

14. The prosthesis socket according to claim 13 , wherein the plurality of tensioning devices are designed as a traction member, a pneumatically or hydraulically driven spreading or tensioning member, a longitudinally slidable spreading or closing element, a movable ring, a tilting element, or a rotatable actuation element.

15. The prosthesis socket according to claim 13 , wherein the plurality of tensioning devices are guided in at least one of eyelets, channels or at least one deflection roller.

16. The prosthesis socket according to claim 13 , wherein the plurality of tensioning devices act in a circumferential direction of the limb stump.

17. The prosthesis socket according to claim 8 , wherein, in a closed state, a contact pressure applied to the limb stump by the actuator decreases in a proximal direction.

18. A method for controlling an adjustment of an inner circumference of a prosthesis socket according to claim 1 , wherein, when at least one of a predetermined position of the limb stump and a compressive force exerted on the limb stump is detected by the at least one sensor, the actuator is activated or deactivated automatically.

19. The method according to claim 18 wherein the plurality of support elements are moved towards one another by their resilient behavior from a widened position to a tensioned position with an inner circumference which is reduced in comparison to the starting position.

20. A method for adjusting an inner circumference of a prosthesis socket, comprising:
opening the prosthesis socket by moving apart a plurality of support elements from one another with an actuator, wherein the plurality of support elements exerts a resilient pretensioning force on the limb stump and the actuator acts against the resilient pretensioning force to move apart the plurality of support elements;
changing an inner circumference of the prosthesis socket by relaxing a plurality of tensioning devices that operates independently against the resilient pretensioning force of the support elements or, the plurality of tension devices being arranged in a proximal-distal direction and spaced from each other in the proximal-distal direction;
changing the inner circumference of the prosthesis socket by tightening the plurality of tensioning devices that operate independently against the resilient pretensioning force of the support elements, wherein the spacing between the plurality of tensioning devices enables adjustment of the prosthesis socket along the proximal-distal direction; and
detecting a positi

Assignees

• Ottobock Se & Co Kgaa

Inventors

• Will Christian
• Finke Lars Benjamin
• Betz Sebastian

Classifications

• A61F2002/6836

  Gears specially adapted therefor, e.g. reduction gears · CPC title

• A61F2/60

  Artificial legs or feet or parts thereof · CPC title

• A61F2/76 Primary

  Means for assembling, fitting or testing prostheses, e.g. for measuring or balancing, {e.g. alignment means} · CPC title

• A61F2002/764

  for measuring acceleration · CPC title

• A61F2/80

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