Patent ID: 8641781

Claim:
A socket for use with a partial prosthesis of the hand, wherein the natural hand has an ulnar side and a radial side and retains thenar and hypo-thenar eminences, at least the body portions of the metacarpals, and at least a portion of the proximal phalanx of the thumb, the socket comprising: a contoured base layer having a palmar portion, a dorsal portion, a first arced portion joining the palmar and dorsal portions on the ulnar side, and a second arced portion joining the palmar and dorsal portions on the radial side, the palmar portion comprising: a transverse distal band having a first section and a second section and being positioned in use proximate to the transverse metacarpal arch of a natural hand, an axial band having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end being joined to the transverse distal band, and a transverse proximal band joined to the proximal end of the axial band and extending laterally therefrom in one direction in a position opposite the first section of the transverse distal band, the transverse proximal band configured for positioning in use along a portion of the proximal transverse arch of the carpal rows distal to the wrist crease of the natural hand, the first section of the transverse distal band, the axial band, and the transverse proximal band defining an opening configured in use to expose the hypo-thenar eminence of the natural hand, and the second section of the transverse distal band and the axial band defining a perimeter of an open area configured in use to expose the thenar eminence and radial side of the wrist of the natural hand; the dorsal portion comprising: a transverse dorsal band contoured to span, in use, a mid-portion of the dorsum of the natural hand in an area initiating distal to the dorsal side of the wrist crease, the dorsal band having a first end and a second end; the first arced portion joined to the first end of the transverse dorsal band, the first section of the transverse distal band, and the transverse proximal band and defining a perimeter of the hypo-thenar opening; and, the second arced portion joined to the second end of the transverse dorsal band and the second section of the transverse distal band; a dorsal axial band that is joined to and extending proximally from the second end of the transverse dorsal band; said socket configured to define the open area from the perimeter of the thenar eminence to the dorsal axial band.