PROSTHETIC LINER, PROSTHESIS SOCKET OR ORTHOSIS

Abstract

A prosthetic liner, prosthesis socket or orthosis with a base body, which has a volume through which gas can flow and which comprises at least one supply line and at least one evacuation line, wherein at least one compressed gas source, which is connected or can be connected to the at least one supply line such that an activation of an activation element causes compressed gas to flow out of the compressed gas source through the volume and at least partially cools the base body.

Claims

1. A prosthetic liner, a prosthesis socket or an orthosis, comprising: a base body which has a volume through which gas can flow and which comprises at least one supply line and at least one evacuation line; a supply device having a valve; at least one compressed gas source, which is connected or can be connected to the at least one supply line such that an activation of the supply device, by means of which a supply of compressed gas from the at least one compressed gas source into the volume can be controlled; wherein the supply device causes compressed gas to flow out of the at least one compressed gas source through the volume and to at least partially cool the base body.

2. The prosthetic liner, prosthesis socket or orthosis according to claim 1, wherein the volume comprises at least one tube through which substances can flow and which is arranged on or in the base body.

3. The prosthetic liner, prosthesis socket or orthosis according to claim 1, wherein the volume runs in or on only one part of the base body.

4. The prosthetic liner, prosthesis socket or orthosis according to claim 1, wherein the at least one compressed gas source is detachably connected or can be detachably connected to the supply line.

5. The prosthetic liner, prosthesis socket or orthosis according to claim 1, wherein the at least one compressed gas source is detachably attached to the base body.

6. The prosthetic liner, prosthesis socket or orthosis according to claim 1, wherein the supply device comprises an activation element to activate the supply device and the valve, wherein the activation element can be activated manually and is a button.

7. The prosthetic liner, prosthesis socket or orthosis according to claim 1, further comprising at least one sensor for recording measured values and an electric or electronic control unit or regulation unit, which activates the supply device depending on the measured values.

8. The prosthetic liner, prosthesis socket or orthosis according to claim 7, wherein the at least one sensor is a temperature sensor, an air pressure sensor, a moisture sensor, a stress sensor, or inertial sensors, such as at least one acceleration sensor.

9. The prosthetic liner, prosthesis socket or orthosis according to claim 1, wherein the at least one evacuation line connects the volume with surroundings of the prosthetic liner, prosthesis socket or orthosis.

10. The prosthetic liner, prosthesis socket or orthosis according to claim 1, wherein the base body is designed to be arranged directly on skin of a wearer of the prosthetic liner, prosthesis socket or orthosis and the volume has at least one opening, which is then sealed by the skin of the wearer.

11. The prosthetic liner, prosthesis socket or orthosis according to claim 1, wherein the at least one compressed gas source is a gas canister or a liquid gas canister.

12. A prosthetic liner, a prosthesis socket or an orthosis, comprising: a base body comprising: a volume through which gas can flow; at least one supply line; at least one evacuation line; a supply device having a valve; at least one compressed gas source configured to connect to the at least one supply line; wherein the supply device is operable to control flow of compressed gas from the at least one compressed gas source into the volume to at least partially cool the base body.

13. The prosthetic liner, prosthesis socket or orthosis according to claim 12, wherein the volume comprises at least one tube through which substances can flow and which is arranged on or in the base body.

14. The prosthetic liner, prosthesis socket or orthosis according to claim 12, wherein the volume runs in or on only one part of the base body.

15. The prosthetic liner, prosthesis socket or orthosis according to claim 12, wherein the at least one compressed gas source is detachably connected or can be detachably connected to the supply line.

16. The prosthetic liner, prosthesis socket or orthosis according to claim 12, wherein the at least one compressed gas source is releasably attached to the base body.

17. The prosthetic liner, prosthesis socket or orthosis according to claim 12, wherein the supply device comprises an activation element to activate the supply device and the valve, wherein the activation element can be activated manually.

18. The prosthetic liner, prosthesis socket or orthosis according to claim 12, further comprising: at least one sensor to record measured values; an electric or electronic control unit or regulation unit, which activates the supply device depending on the measured values.

19. The prosthetic liner, prosthesis socket or orthosis according to claim 18, wherein the at least one sensor is at least one of a temperature sensor, an air pressure sensor, a moisture sensor, a stress sensor, or inertial sensors.

20. The prosthetic liner, prosthesis socket or orthosis according to claim 12, wherein the at least one evacuation line connects the volume with surroundings of the prosthetic liner, prosthesis socket or orthosis.

Description

[0025] In the following, an example of an embodiment of the present invention will be explained in more detail by way of the attached drawings: They show:

[0026] FIG. 1a schematic depiction of an orthopedic device according to a first example of an embodiment of the present invention,

[0027] FIG. 2a sectional view of the device from FIG. 1,

[0028] FIG. 3another sectional view of the orthopedic device,

[0029] FIG. 4a schematic depiction of an orthopedic device according to another example of an embodiment of the present invention,

[0030] FIG. 5a schematic representation of a further orthopedic device,

[0031] FIG. 6a further orthopedic device according to an example of an embodiment of the present invention and

[0032] FIGS. 7 and 8a schematic section from a further orthopedic device.

[0033] FIG. 1 depicts an orthopedic device 1 according to a first example of an embodiment of the present invention. It is a prosthetic liner 2 with a proximal opening 4 into which a residual limb can be introduced. A volume 8, which cannot be seen in FIG. 1, is located in the base body 6. However, the volume has a supply line 10 that is connected to a compressed gas source 14 via a line 12. An activation element 16 is situated in the upper part of the compressed gas source 14 depicted in FIG. 1; in the example of an embodiment shown, this activation element is activated manually. If the activation element 16 is activated, compressed gas flows from the compressed gas source 14 via the line 12 and the supply line 10 into the volume 8. On the way there and in the volume 8 itself, the gas expands and cools the volume 8 and the surrounding base body 6. The gas then leaves the volume 8 via an evacuation line 18.

[0034] FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of the orthopedic device 1 from FIG. 1. The volume 8 is shown in the base body 6, the volume being designed as a tube 20 and arranged in the base body 6 in the shape of a spiral in the example of an embodiment shown. The activation element 16 can be used to guide compressed gas from the compressed gas source 14 into the supply line 10. An adapter element 22 is located at the distal end to which additional components of a prosthesis, such as a prosthesis socket, can be arranged.

[0035] FIG. 3 depicts a sectional view through the orthopedic device 1 which has already been shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. It is clear that the tube 20, which forms the volume 8, is arranged inside a wall 24 of the base body 6 and thereby runs through the entire base boy 6 so the cooling effect produced by gas flowing out of the compressed gas source 14 cools the whole base body 6. The adapter element 22 is depicted in the distal area of the prosthetic liner 2.

[0036] FIG. 4 depicts another orthopedic device 1 according to a further example of an embodiment of the present invention. It shows a knee orthosis, the aim of which is to stabilize the wearer's knee by way of a splint 26: this is achieved by attaching it to the wearer's leg with four belts 28. The base body 6 is situated on one side, whereby it (the base body) is arranged medially, i.e. on the inner side of the leg, in this case. It is clear that the base body 6 need not necessarily be the largest element of the orthopedic device 1 or have a special supportive effect or other such function. The base body 6 is the element in which the volume 8 is found. Compressed gas can be introduced from a compressed gas source 14not depictedvia the line 12 that is connected to the supply line 10.

[0037] FIG. 5 depicts another prosthetic liner 2 according to a further example of an embodiment of the present invention. The dashed line indicates a tube 20 which forms the volume 8 and, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, is arranged in the interior of the prosthetic liner 2 in the shape of a spiral or coil. However, the distance between two adjacent turns of the tube 20 in the example of an embodiment shown in FIG. 6 is considerably greater, meaning that the intended cooling effect of the gas is weaker and appears less homogeneous to the wearer of the orthopedic device 1. In this case, gas from a compressed gas source 14not depictedcan also be introduced into the volume 8 and the tube 20 via the line 12. A locking device 30 is located at the distal end by means of which, for example, a prosthesis socket can be fixed to the prosthetic liner 2.

[0038] FIG. 6 depicts a further example of an embodiment of an orthopedic device 1. Here, it (the orthopedic device) refers to a prosthesis socket 32 with a stiff external shaft 34 and a flexibly designed inner shaft 36. The tube 20 is situated inside, wherein compressed gas from a compressed gas source 14 can be applied to the tube via the supply line 10 and the line 12. In the example of an embodiment depicted, this (the compressed gas source) is located in a housing 38. This housing 38 features a removable lid 40, which is shown in the removed state in FIG. 6. This facilitates the access to the compressed gas source 14. The activation element 16 is found in the housing 38.

[0039] FIG. 7 depicts a section 6 of an orthopedic device according to another example of an embodiment of the present invention. It has an airtight outer layer 42 and a spacer fabric 44, which features a number of openings 46. The spacer fabric 44 lies flat on the skin 48 of the user of the orthopedic device. To this end, bonding agents 44 are provided in the contact areas of the spacer fabric 44.

[0040] FIG. 8 demonstrates the situation from FIG. 7 if compressed gas from the compressed gas sourcenot depictedis guided through the base body 6 along the arrows 52. Since the compressed gas cannot penetrate the airtight outer layer 42, it is guided along this layer in FIG. 8 from right to left. In the openings 46 between the individual contact areas of the spacer fabric 44, it (the spacer fabric) comes into direct contact with the skin 48 of the user of the orthopedic device, meaning it can begin cooling immediately.

REFERENCE LIST

[0041] 1 prosthetic liner, prosthesis socket or orthosis [0042] 2 prosthetic liner [0043] 4 proximal opening [0044] 6 base body [0045] 8 volume [0046] 10 supply line [0047] 12 line [0048] 14 compressed gas source [0049] 16 activation element [0050] 18 evacuation line [0051] 20 tube [0052] 22 adapter element [0053] 24 wall [0054] 26 splint [0055] 28 belt [0056] 30 locking device [0057] 32 prosthesis socket [0058] 34 external shaft [0059] 36 inner shaft [0060] 38 housing [0061] 40 lid [0062] 42 outer layer [0063] 44 spacer fabric [0064] 46 opening [0065] 48 skin [0066] 50 bonding agents [0067] 52 arrow