Patent ID: 8016892

Claim:
A device for evacuating a prosthetic socket having a distally-located vacuum passage, comprising: a distal adapter for installation into an interior distal end of the prosthetic socket; a vacuum passage in said distal adapter, said vacuum passage allowing for the evacuation of air from an interior of said prosthetic socket and through said distal adapter after said distal adapter is installed thereto; an evacuation device comprising at least an electrically powered vacuum pump contained within a housing, said housing configured for coupling to a bottom surface of said distal adapter with a bottom wall of said prosthetic socket trapped therebetween; a power source in communication with said vacuum pump; and a vacuum passage through said evacuation device housing, said vacuum passage in the evacuation device housing aligned with said vacuum passage in said distal adapter when said evacuation device is properly coupled thereto, and wherein, after coupling to said distal adapter, the vacuum pump of said evacuation device is operable to evacuate air from an interior of said prosthetic socket by drawing air therefrom through a passageway formed by said vacuum passage in said distal adapter, a vacuum passage in the prosthetic socket, and said vacuum passage in said evacuation device housing.