Patent ID: 9198780
Filing Date: 2015-12-01
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
1. A vacuum assisted suspension system, comprising: a prosthetic foot; a prosthetic socket; an elongate compression transfer element connected to the prosthetic foot; and a vacuum pump connected to the prosthetic socket and the compression transfer element, the vacuum pump including a housing defining an enclosed space to receive a fluid, at least one wall of the housing and at least one movable wall defining a fluid compartment in the housing, the at least one movable wall being connected to the compression transfer element, and a spring element in the housing, the compression transfer element including an end pin that interacts with the at least one movable wall by applying weight on a middle portion of a wire loop connected to the housing and a protruding pin of the at least one movable wall, wherein the compression transfer element is tensioned and moves the at least one movable wall of the fluid compartment in a direction toward the at least one wall to decrease the volume of the fluid compartment in the absence of a compressive force on the prosthetic foot, wherein in response to a compressive force, the tension in the compressive transfer element is reduced allowing the spring element to shift the movable wall in a direction away from the at least one wall thereby increasing the volume of the fluid compartment and drawing in fluid from the prosthetic socket.