Prosthesis cover for a prosthesis, particularly for an artificial leg

Abstract

The present invention relates to a prosthesis covering (100) with a closed cross-section which comprises a first section (10), a second section (20) and a third section (30). The second section (20) is arranged in longitudinal direction between the first section (10) and the third section (30) and consists of other material than the other two sections. The second section (20) may optionally at least in a first subsection (21) be folded, doubled over, raised, lamella-like or multi-layer.

Claims

1. A prosthesis covering having a closed cross-section, wherein the prosthesis covering comprises along its longitudinal extension at least a first section, a second section and a third section; wherein the second section includes a material comprising a higher E-Modul (Young's modulus) than at least one of a material of the first section and a material of the third section; wherein the second section is arranged between the first section and the third section; wherein the second section includes a first subsection which in at least one state thereof is in sections folded, doubled over, raised, lamella-like or multiple-layer; wherein the second section comprises, as a second subsection, a structure extending in a longitudinal direction of the prosthesis covering or of the second section, wherein the second subsection is not folded, doubled over, raised, lamella-like or multi-layer; and wherein the second subsection lies on or adjacent to the inner or outer surface of the first subsection or complements together with the first subsection to 360° of the circumference.

2. The prosthesis covering according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first section, the second section and the third section is made of, or comprises, an airtight material.

3. The prosthesis covering according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first subsection and the second subsection is not elastic.

4. The prosthesis covering according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first section and the third section is elastic.

5. The prosthesis covering according to claim 1, wherein the second section, in at least one subsection thereof, comprises an elevated structure on its inner side.

Description

(1) FIG. 1 shows a prosthesis covering 100 according to the present invention in a first embodiment in a side view with a slight perspective from above.

(2) The prosthesis covering 100 comprises a first section 10, a second section 20 and a third section 30, or alternatively consists thereof. Its longitudinal direction or longitudinal axis is indicated with L. The prosthesis covering 100 extends in an axial direction. The transverse direction or the radial direction extends perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L.

(3) Thereby, the second section 20 is arranged between the first section 10 and the third section 30. In the example of the figures the first section 10 and the third section 30 are not in contact with each other. As in FIG. 1, they are optionally in at least a radial layer, not in contact with each other.

(4) The second section 20 comprises a higher E-Modul (Young's modulus) than the first section 10 and/or than the third section 30.

(5) FIG. 2 shows a prosthesis covering 100 according to the present invention in a second embodiment.

(6) Thereby, in a first subsection 21 thereof, the second section 20 is folded lamella-like along its entire circumference. In FIG. 2 there are shown, for example, eight lamellas, any other number is equally encompassed by the present invention.

(7) The lamellas serve as a material reservoir. When the prosthesis covering 100 is put over a joint, for example the artificial knee joint, and the patella or the artificial patella of the wearer of the prosthesis covering 100 is pointing to the left with regard to FIG. 2 (with the popliteal fossa (hollow of the knee) on the right side of the prosthesis covering 100 with respect to FIG. 2), the second section 20 with a higher Young's modulus than sections 10 and/or 30 may be extended/lengthened by unfolding, e.g. over the knee.

(8) Hereby, the patient feels no pressure on the skin which would result from the tension of an elastic material in the second section 20. The second section 20 (in comparison to a lower Young's modulus of the first and/or the third section 30) does not allow such pressure to occur. Instead of building up pressure, it simply lengthens (extends) in the longitudinal direction due to the lamella-like structure provided therefore.

(9) FIG. 2a shows the lower section of the prosthesis covering 100 according to the present invention of FIG. 2 in a partial sectional view A. The section shown in FIG. 2a is indicated with the reference numeral A in FIG. 2.

(10) It is visible, that the material of the first subsection 21 of the second section 20, which is folded in lamellas, lies on top of each other due to a double over. In the state of the prosthesis covering 100 shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 2a, the material is still doubled over on itself or still comprises doubled over parts, however, the main extension of them lies (more or less) parallel to the longitudinal axis of the prosthesis covering 100, in the embodiment shown, however, not perpendicular to it.

(11) FIG. 3 shows a prosthesis covering 100 according to the present invention in a third embodiment.

(12) The prosthesis covering 100 differs from the one in FIG. 2 in having a second subsection 22.

(13) The second subsection 22 connects the first section 10 with the third section 30. It may ensure that the distance between the first section 10 and the third section 30 (in longitudinal direction L) does not exceed a maximum distance. It may further ensure that the material reservoir of the second section 20 does not unfold while the prosthesis covering is being pulled on or put on and is no longer available to the patient during later flexion movements.

(14) Unlike the first subsection 21, the length or the visible length of which may be increased by unfolding, the second subsection 22 does not comprise a material reserve. Its length is unchangeable, however, within its elasticity.

(15) Thereby, the second subsection 22 may be less elastic in comparison to the elasticity of the first section 10 and/or the third section 30. It may optionally be non-elastic.

(16) In FIG. 3 a second subsection 22 can be seen. However, two or more of such second subsections 22 may be provided distributed over the circumference of the prosthesis covering 100.

(17) Also, the width of the second subsection 22 may vary. In FIG. 3 the second subsection 22 is shown comparatively narrow. Alternatively, it may be wider than shown in FIG. 3. It may constitute e.g. up to 100°, 120°, 140°, 160° or 180° or more of the circumference of the prosthesis covering 100. The latter embodiment is shown in FIG. 4.

(18) FIG. 4 shows a prosthesis covering 100 according to the present invention in a fourth embodiment.

(19) The prosthesis covering 100 corresponds to the one shown in FIG. 3, except that there is only one second subsection 22, which extends over 180° of the circumference of the prosthesis covering 100.

(20) The first subsection 21 may be optionally supplemented to 360° with the second subsection 22, as shown by way of example in FIG. 4.

(21) The first subsection 21 may cover 360° of the circumference of the extremity or of the prosthesis covering 100. The second subsection 22 may lie on or adjacent to the first subsection 21, optionally at its inner or outer surface.

(22) As shown in FIG. 4 by way of example, the first subsection 21 may constitute or cover 180° of the circumference of the prosthesis covering 100. It may alternatively also be wider than shown in FIG. 4. Thus, it may constitute e.g. up to 240° or more of the circumference of the prosthesis covering 100.

(23) In any embodiment according to the present invention, the first subsection 21 may cover between 40% and 70% of the circumference, more preferably a part of the circumference, constituting between 55% and 65% of the circumference, most preferably 60% of the circumference.

(24) The percentages mentioned above may optionally refer to the unstressed state of the prosthesis covering 100, for example, before use, e.g. in the shipping packaging, or it may refer to a state of use, for example, on the extremity.

(25) FIG. 5 shows a prosthesis covering 100 according to the present invention in a fifth embodiment in a partial sectional view.

(26) Only the second section 20 is cut and unfolded, but not the first section 10 nor the third section 30. The view to the drawing plane of FIG. 5 shows the inner side of the second section 20, which would be in contact with the skin of the patient during the use of the prosthesis covering 100 or, nevertheless, would be facing it.

(27) An elevated or prominent structure 25 may be recognized, which extends away from the inner side of the second section 20 and during use of the prosthesis covering 100 extends radially into the prosthesis covering 100.

(28) The structure 25 may preferably extend in a longitudinal direction of the prosthesis covering 100. It serves to prevent the second section 20 from lying completely planar on the patient's body. Benefited by the distance the structure 25 keeps open between the inner side of the second section 20 and the patient's body (e.g. the skin), a negative pressure between the inner side of the second section 20 and the patient's body may be established by suitable negative pressure devices without any relevant niche formations.

(29) FIG. 5a shows the single cut through the prosthesis covering 100 according to the present invention of FIG. 5 along a line B-B of FIG. 5.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

(30) 100 prosthesis covering 10 first section 20 second section 21 first subsection 22 second subsection 25 elevated structure 30 third section