Patent ID: 8568489

Claim:
A prosthetic device for attachment to a residual limb, comprising: a vacuum pump including: a compressible elastomeric member alone forming an enclosed internal reservoir containing a volume of fluid; an outlet port positioned on the external surface of the elastomeric member and providing fluid communication between the internal reservoir and a fluid sink; and an inlet port positioned on the external surface of the elastomeric member and providing fluid communication between the internal reservoir and a fluid source; a first support member having a proximal end configured for attachment to the residual limb and a distal end coupled to a first side of the elastomeric member; a second support member having a proximal end coupled to a second opposing side of the elastomeric member, wherein at least one of the first and second support members is adapted to apply a compression force along, and a rotational force about, a longitudinal axis extending through the elastomeric member; wherein upon applying the compression force to the elastomeric member along the longitudinal axis, fluid flows from the internal reservoir to the fluid sink and upon removal of the compression force, fluid flows from the fluid source to the internal reservoir, and wherein upon applying the rotational force about the longitudinal axis, the elastomeric member exerts a counter-rotational force.