A flexible inner socket is fabricated by forming a pre-socket. The pre-socket includes a body formed with an opening and an enclosed end. The enclosed end is opposite to the opening. The body of the pre-socket has an outer circumference that is smaller than the inner circumference of the rigid prosthetic socket. Different portions of the body may have different thicknesses. The preform socket is heated. After the heating, the flexible inner socket is formed by molding the pre-socket onto the inner surface of the rigid prosthetic socket to form the flexible inner socket. The inner circumference of the rigid prosthetic socket is reduced by a thickness of the flexible inner socket when the flexible inner socket is attached to the inner surface of the rigid prosthetic socket. An opening of the flexible inner socket may be trimmed after the formation to fit contours of an opening of the rigid prosthetic socket.

Sensing devices for measuring a force applied by a patient's body include a first surface and a second surface that form a chamber housing electrical components and an incompressible fluid. The second surface is convex away from the first surface, which is planar. The electrical components include a pressure sensor and a signal conditioner and the incompressible fluid fills the chamber and contacts the electrical components.

Embodiments relate to prosthetic limbs and liners. An embodiment of the prosthetic liner is housed in a prosthetic limb and includes a liner body. The liner body includes a first end for receiving a body part of a user. The first end includes a liquid-retentive portion. The liner body includes an inner surface. The inner surface contacts with the body part. The inner surface includes a plurality of microchannels. The microchannels are formed along the inner surface. The microchannels are connected at one end to the liquid-retentive portion. At least one of the plurality of microchannels is configured to receive liquid droplets and direct the received liquid droplets to the liquid-retentive portion. The liner body also includes an outer surface opposite to the inner surface. The outer surface faces an interior surface of the prosthetic limb and is provided in an interior cavity of the prosthetic limb.

A prosthetic system includes a prosthetic valve having a valve body with a shaft defining a flow channel fluidly connectable to an interior of a socket. One or more ports in the valve body are in fluid communication with the flow channel and a membrane is positioned in the valve body. A release button associated with the membrane controls allow air flow into the socket via the one or more ports while air can flow out of the socket via the one or more ports independent of operation of the release button. A one-way valve is connected to the valve assembly that selectively permit air flow out of the socket. A valve insert is mountable on the socket and arranged to couple the valve body to the socket. The valve insert defines an opening configured to allow the shaft to extend through the valve insert and into the socket.

This invention relates generally to an index map comprising both pressure and perfusion information from a diabetic patient foot for the purpose of treatment. The index map may also be a map of perfusion and/or metabolism of the tissue (reflecting oxygen delivery and oxygen extraction, obtained by thermal imaging, hyperspectral imaging, or duplex ultrasound, MRA, CT or laser Doppler imaging. This information aids treatment in prevention of diabetic foot ulceration and amputation and in treatment of tissue compromise to prevent tissue loss in other body regions.

A hernia repair device, comprising: an inflatable balloon having an inflation tube, the inflation tube having a proximal end attached to said balloon and a distal end adapted to be extracted from the body, separately from the balloon, via an opening which is smaller than a laparoscopic opening; and a mesh removably attached to said balloon, wherein the inflation tube passes through the mesh.

Wearable devices for spinal deformities, including a wearable brace configured to be worn about a patient's torso, at least one inflation bladder carried directly or indirectly by an inner surface of the brace, and positioned such that inflation of the bladder with a fluid applies a pressure to generate a force on the patient at a targeted location, at least one force sensor carried directly or indirectly by a surface of the brace, to measure the force independent of the bladder, and the force sensor adapted to output a signal indicative of a force applied on the sensor.

The present invention relates to a medical apparatus (100) for use in manufacturing a plaster impression of limb stump, in particular of a lower stump, wherein the apparatus (100) comprises a pressure vessel (1) with a fluid chamber of pressure chamber (DK) for receiving or storing a fluid (F) being under pressure, wherein the pressure vessel (1) is limited against an exterior (), wherein the pressure vessel (1) comprises an insertion opening (9) for the insertion of a limb stump (KS) into the interior (I) of the pressure vessel (1) and a fluid-tight membrane (5) made of two materials, which are arranged to form or limit the fluid chamber or the pressure chamber (DK). In addition, the present invention relates to a system (300) having a medical apparatus (100) and at least one contact surface (111). Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method.

The present invention describes soft robotic actuators (300,400). Each robotic actuator (300,400) is made up of a corrugated sleeve (110,110a,210,210a), an expandable blabber (120,220) and a lock member (370,480). The corrugated sleeve (110,110a,210,210a) has a hollow passageway (111,211) with a plurality of folds (112,212) extending along the passageway, with the hollow passageway extending along a length of the corrugated sleeve. The expandable blabber (120,220) is detachably inserted inside the hollow passageway (111,211) and being kept inside the corrugated sleeve (110,110a,210,210a) by the lock member (370,480). In a use application, a fluid medium is communicable into the bladder under pressure through a tubing opening formed on the lock member (370,480) results in reversible inflation of the bladder (120,220). Inflation of the bladder causes the bladder to press against and deform the corrugated sleeve, thereby generating a force output and controlled extension/bending of the robotic actuators (300,400).

A prosthetic foot including a foot member and a heel member attached to a bottom surface of the foot member. A pump mechanism is located above the foot member and includes a housing and an elastomeric member at least in part defining a fluid chamber. The elastomeric member is operatively connected to the foot member such that when no weight is placed on the prosthetic foot the volume of the fluid chamber is zero or near-zero and upon heel strike the housing rotates relative to the foot member to expand the volume of the fluid chamber and draw fluid into the fluid chamber from a prosthetic socket in fluid communication with the pump mechanism.