Vacuum pump systems for prosthetic limbs and methods of using the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9757255-B2
Application number	US-201514730816-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 4, 2015
Priority date	Jun 23, 2011
Publication date	Sep 12, 2017
Grant date	Sep 12, 2017

Abstract

Pump systems for use in suspension of a prosthetic device from a residual limb and methods of suspending a prosthetic device from a residual limb are disclosed. The pump systems include a mechanically activated pump having a first compression member coupled to a second compression member, a compressible bladder disposed between the first and second compression members, and coupling elements that engage and couple together the first and second compression members. The mechanically activated pump may be connected with an electrically activated pump within a fluid circuit of a hybrid pump system to provide vacuum engagement between a prosthetic device and a residual limb.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A pump system for use in suspension of a prosthetic device from a transtibial residual limb comprising:
a mechanically activated pump having pumping action that requires a mechanical input via movement of the prosthetic device and having a first compression member coupled to a second compression member;
a compressible bladder disposed between the first and second compression members;
coupling elements that engage and couple together the first and second compression members, wherein all of the coupling elements are disposed about an outer perimeter of the compressible bladder; and
a separate electrically activated pump having an electrical power source and pumping action that requires an electrical input from the electrical power source, wherein the electrically activated pump is coupled within a fluid circuit with the compressible bladder and the mechanically activated pump.

2. The pump system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the fluid circuit is configured to provide vacuum engagement with the transtibial residual limb.

3. The pump system in accordance with claim 2 , wherein the pump system is incorporated into a prosthetic device that further comprises a socket that is configured to receive the transtibial residual limb and the fluid circuit is connected to the socket.

4. The pump system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the first compression member is pivotally coupled to the second compression member.

5. The pump system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the first compression member translates relative to the second compression member.

6. The pump system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the electrically activated pump is disposed outward from the outer perimeter of the compressible bladder.

7. The pump system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the electrical power source further comprises a battery.

8. The pump system in accordance with claim 7 , wherein the battery is rechargeable.

9. A hybrid pump system that includes a prosthetic device that is adapted for suspension from a transtibial residual limb comprising:
a prosthetic device having a transtibial residual limb receiving socket;
a mechanically activated pump having pumping action that requires a mechanical input via movement of the prosthetic device;
a separate electrically activated pump having an electrical power source and pumping action that requires an electrical input from the electrical power source;
the mechanically activated pump and electrically activated pump being connected within a fluid circuit that evacuates air from the transtibial residual limb receiving socket; and
wherein the mechanically activated pump further comprises a first compression member coupled to a second compression member and an elastomeric member disposed between the first and second compression members and being in fluid communication with the fluid circuit.

10. The hybrid pump system in accordance with claim 9 ,
wherein the electrical power source further comprises a battery.

11. The hybrid pump system in accordance with claim 10 , wherein the battery is rechargeable.

12. The hybrid pump system in accordance with claim 9 , wherein the elastomeric member further comprises a compressible bladder.

13. The hybrid pump system in accordance with claim 9 , wherein the first compression member is pivotally coupled to the second compression member.

14. The hybrid pump system in accordance with claim 9 , wherein the first compression member translates relative to the second compression member.

15. The hybrid pump system in accordance with claim 9 , wherein the electrically activated pump is disposed above or below the mechanically activated pump.

16. The pump system in accordance with claim 9 , wherein the electrically activated pump is disposed outward from the outer perimeter of the compressible bladder.

17. A hybrid pump system that includes a prosthetic device that is adapted for suspension from a transtibial residual limb comprising:
a prosthetic device having a transtibial residual limb receiving socket;
a mechanically activated pump having pumping action that requires a mechanical input via movement of the prosthetic device;
a separate electrically activated pump having an electrical power source and pumping action that requires an electrical input from the electrical power source;
the mechanically activated pump and electrically activated pump being connected within a fluid circuit that evacuates air from the transtibial residual limb receiving socket; and
wherein the mechanically activated pump further comprises a first compression member coupled to a second compression member, an elastomeric element disposed between the first and second compression members and being in fluid communication with the fluid circuit, and coupling elements engaging and coupling together the first and second compression members, wherein all of the coupling elements are disposed about an outer perimeter of the elastomeric element.

18. The hybrid pump system in accordance with claim 17 , wherein the fluid circuit is in communication with the socket and the elastomeric element of the mechanically activated pump, and the mechanically activated pump evacuates air from the socket when the prosthetic device is used to walk.

19. The hybrid pump system in accordance with claim 17 , further comprising a controller and wherein the fluid circuit and controller are configured to evacuate air from the socket by operating the electrically activated pump when the prosthetic device is not being used to walk and the air pressure within the socket is outside of a preselected range of values.

20. The hybrid pump system in accordance with claim 17 , further comprising a controller and wherein the fluid circuit and controller are configured to evacuate air from the socket by operating the electrically activated pump when the transtibial residual limb is initially received within the socket.

21. The hybrid pump system in accordance with claim 17 , wherein a preselected level of vacuum within the socket is maintained by operation of the mechanically activated pump.

22. The hybrid pump system in accordance with claim 17 , wherein a preselected level of vacuum within the socket is maintained by operation of the electrically activated pump.

23. The hybrid pump system in accordance with claim 17 , wherein the first compression member is pivotally coupled to the second compression.

24. The hybrid pump system in accordance with claim 17 , wherein the first compression member translates relative to the second compression member.

25. The hybrid pump system in accordance with claim 17 , wherein at least one spring is disposed between the first compression member and the second compression member.

26. The hybrid pump system in accordance with claim 25 , wherein the at least one spring biases the first compression member toward a position spaced apart from the second compression member.

Assignees

• Univ Northwestern
• Us Dept Veterans Affairs

Inventors

• Caldwell Ryan J
• Hansen Andrew H
• Wood Sean M
• Chen Wei
• Radcliffe Regan A
• Yngve Kevin A
• Kuhar Bennett E
• Nelson Andrew J
• Nickel Eric

Classifications

• A61F2002/802

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

• A61F2002/7655

  for measuring fluid pressure · CPC title

• A61F2002/704

  computer-controlled, e.g. robotic control · CPC title

• A61F2002/689

  Alarm means, e.g. acoustic · CPC title

• A61F2002/6809

  acoustic · CPC title