Patent ID: 8394150
Filing Date: 2013-03-12
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
1. A prosthetic assembly comprising: a) a monolithic prosthetic socket having an inner surface and an outer surface, a closed distal end and an open proximal end; said inner surface configured to substantially be complimentary to the shape of a residual limb of an amputee; said socket having a proximal end edge and a proximal outer surface region surrounding said open proximal end; b) a prosthetic liner having an inner surface and an outer surface, a closed distal end and an open proximal end; said inner surface adapted to conform to the shape of the residual limb of the amputee such that said limb is fittingly retained therein when donned; said liner having a proximal outer surface region surrounding said proximal open end extending from a proximal end edge of said liner to an intermediate edge thereon; said liner having a distal outer surface region extending from said intermediate edge to said distal end and being covered with a porous or continuously cavitated compressible material having an outer surface; said proximal outer surface region of said liner and said outer surface of said compressible material defining a substantially collinear outer surface with the compressible material layer being recessed into said liner to a distance of about the thickness of the compressible material; c) said liner being mounted within said socket such that said outer surface of said compressible material is fittingly received in said socket and in direct contact with the inner surface of said monolithic socket from said intermediate edge to said distal end of said liner to thereby define and sustain an interstitial area between the inner surface of said socket and the outer surface of said liner through said compressible material; d) said liner, when mounted in said socket, having said intermediate edge disposed proximate said proximal edge of said socket and within said socket such that said proximal outer surface region of said liner is in direct contact with the inner surface of said monolithic socket from said intermediate edge of said liner to said proximal end edge of said socket and extends away from said proximal end edge of said socket; e) a sealing open-ended sleeve having a first end and an opposite second end; said sealing sleeve mounted in sealing engagement over said proximal outer surface region of said socket and said proximal outer surface region of said liner with said first end overlapping said proximal outer surface region of said socket and said second end overlapping and terminating within said proximal outer surface region of said liner; whereby as said amputee ambulates, air trapped within said interstitial area is forced to evacuate therefrom through said compressible material, through the interface between said proximal outer surface region of said liner and the inner surface of said monolithic socket from said intermediate edge of said liner to said proximal end edge of said socket and through the interface between said sealing sleeve, said proximal outer surface region of said socket and said proximal outer surface region of said liner; f) said liner, said compressible material and said sealing sleeve comprising materials selected such that a vacuum from above about 0 inches Hg to about 15 inches Hg is capable of being maintained in said interstitial area upon ambulatory motion; and g) said socket includes a distally located hole or cavity extending therethrough and said liner comprises a locking pin in the distal end which engages said hole or cavity in the distal end of said socket for locking the prosthesis onto the residual limb of the amputee, said pin further includes an axially extending passageway with a one-way valve mounted therein for permitting exit of air in the volume of said interstitial area during ambulation of the amputee; h) whereby a circumferentially continuous sealable interface between said liner and said socket together with a circumferentially continuous sealable interface between said sleeve and said liner provides sufficient sealing structure free of any concentrated annular pressure points to accomplish said vacuum within said prosthetic assembly.