METHOD FOR PRODUCING AN ORTHOPEDIC DEVICE

Abstract

A method for producing an orthopedic device, wherein the method comprises: providing a main body of the orthopedic device that comprises at least one volume that can be filled with a fluid, at least one supply line to this volume, and a flexible and/or elastic material in at least some sections of the main body in which there is no volume that can be filled with a fluid, arranging the main body on a body part of a patient, at least partially filling the volume with a curable fluid, and curing the curable fluid.

Claims

1. A method for producing an orthopedic device, comprising: providing a main body of the orthopedic device that comprises: at least one volume that can be filled with a fluid; at least one supply line to this volume; at least one of a flexible material or an elastic material in at least some sections of the main body in which there is no volume that can be filled with a fluid; arranging the main body on a body part of a patient; at least partially filling the volume with a curable fluid; curing the curable fluid.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the fillable volume is situated at least partially in the at least one of a flexible material or an elastic material.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the cured fluid forms bar-shaped or finger-shaped parts, wherein a section of the at least one of a flexible material or an elastic material is situated between at least two of these parts.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the main body is configured to be molded to the patient's body part after the volume has been at least partially filled with the fluid.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the base body comprises several components, each of which features at least one partial volume that can be filled with the fluid.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the components are joined together to form the main body, wherein at least two are joined together to form the volume.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein the at least one component is a joint or a fixing adapter.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the main body is made from an elastic main body material.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the main body is at least partially produced in an additive process.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the fluid is electrically conductive.

11. A main body of an orthopedic device for conducting a method according to claim 1.

12. A method for producing an orthopedic device, comprising: providing a main body of the orthopedic device having at least one volume that can be filled with a fluid, at least one supply line to this volume, a plurality of sections where no fluid can be stored, and at least one of a flexible material or an elastic material in at least some sections of the main where no fluid can be stored; arranging the main body on a body part of a patient; at least partially filling the volume with a curable fluid; curing the curable fluid.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein that the at least one volume is situated at least partially in the at least one of a flexible material or an elastic material.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the cured fluid forms bar-shaped or finger-shaped parts, and a section of the at least one of a flexible material or an elastic material is situated between at least two of these parts.

15. The method according to claim 12, wherein the main body is configured to be molded to the patient's body part after the volume has been at least partially filled with the fluid.

16. The method according to claim 12, wherein the base body comprises several components, each of which includes at least one partial volume that can be filled with the fluid.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the components are joined together to form the main body, and at least two of the components are joined together to form the volume.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein the at least one component is a joint or a fixing adapter.

19. The method according to claim 12, wherein the main body includes an elastic main body material.

20. The method according to claim 12, wherein the main body is at least partially produced in an additive manufacturing process.

Description

[0038] In the following, examples of embodiments of the present invention will be explained in more detail by way of the attached drawings: They show:

[0039] FIGS. 1 and 2a main body of an orthopedic device according to a first example of an embodiment of the present invention,

[0040] FIG. 3the schematic representation of parts of as well as a com-plete main body according to another example of an embodiment of the present invention,

[0041] FIG. 4a section of a main body according to a further example of an embodiment of the present invention,

[0042] FIG. 5the schematic representation of steps in the production of ducts,

[0043] FIG. 6various embodiments of arranged ducts according to further examples of an embodiment of the present invention, and

[0044] FIG. 7an orthopedic device according to a further example of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0045] FIGS. 1 and 2 depict a main body 2, which in the example of an embodiment shown is a prosthesis socket. However, a liner or another component could also be used as a main body. An applied volume 4 is visible on the outside of the main body, wherein said volume is filled with a fluid in the example of an embodiment shown. It is applied to the outside of the main body 2 in such a way that there are no uncomfortable elevations on the inside of the main body 2, which comes into contact with the amputation stump.

[0046] The left-hand representation in FIG. 3 shows three components 6, which each feature a fillable volume 4. While the left and right-hand components 6 comprise an upper connection 8 and a lower connection 10, via which, for instance, the volume 4 can be filled with a fluid, their sides feature contact connections 12, into which the corresponding connections 14 of the middle component 6 can be inserted. This results in a large fillable volume 4, which can be completely or partially filled with a fluid. It is thus possible, in the manner of a construction set, to compile a volume system of a fillable volume made of different components 6, wherein said volume system is adapted to fit the respective desired properties. In the right-hand representation in FIG. 3, it is clear that the three components 6 form part of a main body 2, which in this case is part of a lower leg orthosis.

[0047] FIG. 4 shows another embodiment. The two components 6, which each feature a volume 4, can be connected to one another via a connecting adapter 16 in such a way that the two volumes 4 can form a joint fillable volume. The connecting adapter 16 is only shown via a dashed line in FIG. 4. The two components 6 are part of a main body 2, which comprises, among other things, a fixing element 18, to which additional prosthesis parts, for instance, can be arranged.

[0048] FIG. 5 illustrates a production method for the production of a corresponding volume. In the left-hand representation in FIG. 5, a part of the main body 2 is first produced, for example cast, between an upper boundary mould 20 and a lower boundary mould 22. An insert 24 is used to determine the shape of volume 4, which can be filled with the fluid in the finished main body 2. This results in a first main body element 26, which is depicted again in the right-hand representation in FIG. 5. The cavity 28 created by the insert 24 can be seen. A second main body element 30, which is connected to the first main body element 26, turns the cavity 28 into a fillable volume 4.

[0049] FIG. 6 depicts a range of embodiments, such as a produced volume 4, in the form of a duct in the example of an embodiment shown, which can be arranged on a main body material of an orthopedic device. The top-left of FIG. 6 shows the volume 4 stuck to a main body element 32. Of course, it can also be welded on or fixed in another manner. The top-right of FIG. 4 depicts a textile layer 34 arranged on the main body element 32, wherein the fillable volume 4 is arranged on said textile layer. The bottom of FIG. 6 shows the fillable volume, which is designed in the same way in all three representations; here, it is embedded in the textile layer 34 that is arranged on the main body element 32.

[0050] FIG. 7 depicts an orthopedic device in the form of a lower arm and hand prosthesis. It features the main body 2, which comprises the fillable volume 4, which is already filled with fluid in the example of an embodiment shown. It extends in two arms 36 from the elbow region to the prosthetic hand 38. An electrode arrangement 40 is positioned between the two arms 36, which is protected from mechanical influences by the arms 36 surrounding it. The main body 2 comprises circumferential reinforcement elements 42 that enable mechanical stability to be achieved.

REFERENCE LIST

[0051] 2 main body [0052] 4 volume [0053] 6 component [0054] 8 upper connection [0055] 10 lower connection [0056] 12 contact connection [0057] 14 connection [0058] 16 connecting adapter [0059] 18 fixing element [0060] 20 upper boundary mould [0061] 22 lower boundary mould [0062] 24 insert [0063] 26 first main body element [0064] 28 cavity [0065] 30 second main body element [0066] 32 main body element [0067] 34 textile layer [0068] 36 arm [0069] 38 prosthetic hand [0070] 40 electrode arrangement [0071] 42 reinforcement element