Patent ID: 6645253
Filing Date: 2003-11-11
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
A weight-activated vacuum pump and shock absorber for an artificial limb, the artificial limb having a socket adapted to receive a residual limb into a cavity therein and adapted to pull the residual limb into firm and total contact with the socket under the influence of vacuum and adapted to prevent the loss of fluids in the residual limb by opposing such loss with vacuum, the vacuum pump and shock absorber comprising:a) a cylinder having a first wall, a second wall, and side walls; b) a piston reciprocating within the cylinder; c) a seal between the piston and the cylinder side walls; d) a vacuum chamber formed by the piston, the seal, the side walls and the first wall; e) an intake port connecting the vacuum chamber to the socket cavity; and f) an exhaust port connecting the vacuum chamber to atmosphere.