Patent ID: 6991444

Claim:
An apparatus for making a prosthetic socket, comprising: a vacuum source; a vacuum bladder having a closed distal end and an open proximal end; a tubing means for providing fluid communication between said vacuum source and said distal end of said vacuum bladder; said vacuum bladder adapted to receive a residual limb; a first plastic separator disposed in overlying relation to said residual limb; a layer of unhardened plaster means disposed in overlying relation to said first plastic separator; a wick means disposed in overlying relation to said layer of unhardened plaster means; a hemostatic latch for sealing said proximal end of said vacuum bladder when said residual limb, first plastic separator, plaster means, and wick means are positioned within said vacuum bladder; whereby a vacuum is capable of being applied internally to said vacuum bladder for an amount of time until said plaster means hardens into a negative cast; whereby the residual limb is capable of being manipulated through said vacuum bladder before said plaster means hardens to modify the geometry of the plaster means as appropriate for the physiology of the residual limb; and whereby the negative cast is capable of being removed from the residual limb and a the negative cast is capable of having a positive cast formed therein.