Abstract
A liner for placing on the surface of the skin, comprising a base body made from a flexible, waterproof material having an outer side which is opposite the surface of the skin when in the applied state and an inner side which faces the surface of the skin when in the applied state, and channels which are open in the direction of the main surface and arranged on the inner side.
Claims
1. A liner for application to a surface of the skin, the liner comprising: a basic body produced from a flexible, watertight material and comprising: an outside surface which, in an applied state of the liner, is remote from the surface of the skin; an inside surface which, in the applied state, faces the surface of the skin; channels which are open toward the surface of the skin and arranged on the inside surface.
2. The liner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the basic body comprises a closed cross section with a proximal access opening.
3. The liner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the basic body comprises a closed outside surface.
4. The liner as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a coating, which is produced from a material that deviates from the material of the basic body, applied on the outside surface.
5. The liner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the channels are formed by at least one of nubs and webs.
6. The liner as claimed in claim 5, wherein the at least one of nubs and webs are arranged in a regular arrangement on the inside surface.
7. The liner as claimed in claim 5, wherein the at least one of nubs and webs are arranged over the entire inside surface.
8. The liner as claimed in claim 5, wherein the at least one of nubs and webs comprise an even surface which is directed to the surface of the skin.
9. The liner as claimed in claim 5, wherein when the channels are formed by nubs, a ratio of nub length to nub width is between 0.8 and 2.5.
10. The liner as claimed in claim 5, wherein when the channels are formed by nubs, a ratio of nub length to nub height is between 1.5 and 2.5.
11. The liner as claimed in claim 5, wherein a distance between two nubs or between two webs is between half of a height of the nubs or webs and 1.5 times the height of the nub or web.
12. The liner as claimed in claim 5, wherein a ratio of a height of the numbs or webs to a width of the nubs or webs is less than 1.
13. The liner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the channels at least one of reach up to a proximal or distal edge of the liner or are formed as suction or ventilation channels.
14. The liner as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one connection device provided for a ventilation device.
15. The liner as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a connection for ventilation or aeration arranged in the liner, the connection being fluidically connected to the channels.
16. The liner as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a phase change material arranged on the liner or integrated in the liner.
17. The liner as claimed in claim 16, wherein the channels are fluidically connected to the phase change material.
18. A prosthetic liner configured to mount to residual limb, comprising: a basic body, comprising: a flexible, watertight material; an outside surface configured to face away from the residual limb; an inside surface configured to face the residual limb; channels positioned on the inside surface and configured to open toward the residual limb.
19. The liner as claimed in claim 18, wherein the basic body comprises a closed cross section with a closed distal end and a proximal access opening.
20. The liner as claimed in claim 18, further comprising a coating positioned on the outside surface, the coating comprising a material that is different from the material of the basic body
Description
[0032] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below by way of the accompanying figures, in which:
[0033] FIG. 1shows a radial section through a liner and a representation of a detail;
[0034] FIG. 2shows a top view of a radial section according to FIG. 1;
[0035] FIG. 3shows a radial section through a one-piece liner with a representation of a detail;
[0036] FIG. 4shows a top view of a radial section and a representation of a detail with separate pimples;
[0037] FIG. 5shows a cross sectional representation with a view of a detail;
[0038] FIG. 6shows a top view of a cross sectional representation according to FIG. 5;
[0039] FIG. 7shows a one-piece variant of a liner according to FIG. 5;
[0040] FIG. 8shows a top view of a cross section of a liner with separate pimples;
[0041] FIG. 9shows a top view of two embodiments;
[0042] FIG. 10shows a variant of FIG. 9;
[0043] FIG. 11shows a radial section;
[0044] FIG. 12shows a representation of a detail of FIG. 11;
[0045] FIG. 13shows a cross sectional view of FIG. 11;
[0046] FIG. 14shows a view of a detail of FIG. 13;
[0047] FIG. 15shows a top view of a variant; and
[0048] FIG. 16shows a top view of a further variant.
[0049] In the left-hand representation, FIG. 1 shows a liner 1 with a radial section along the longitudinal extension in which only the cutting plane is shown. The liner 1 is realized as a closed liner and comprises a closed, distal end and an access opening 18, through which a stump (not shown) of a limb can be introduced into the liner 1. The liner 1 comprises a basic body 10 produced from a flexible, watertight and advantageously elastic material. The basic body 10 comprises an inside surface 14 which faces the stump in the applied state and an outside surface 12 which is remote from the surface of the skin. The outside surface 12 is realized in a closed manner such that no moisture from the stump is able to penetrate through the basic body 10 to the outside or to pass through the basic body 10 to the stump. Silicone or a plastics material, for example polyurethane, can be used as material for the basic body 10. A plurality of similar nubs 16, which project beyond the basic body 10 in the direction of the surface of the skin, are realized on the inside surface 14 of the basic body 10. A coating 20, which consists of a material which is different to the material of the basic body 10, is applied on the outside surface 12 of the basic body 10. As a result of the nubs 16, which comprise a planar surface 28 which faces the surface of the skin, ventilation of the surface of the skin is possible at those regions where the nubs 16 do not rest on the surface of the skin. As a result, it is possible to remove moisture and heat from the liner 1 such that hot air and moisture are able to emerge at the distal edge 24 of the liner.
[0050] An enlarged view of a detail of a liner wall with an outside coating 20, the basic body 10 and the nubs 16 which protrude therefrom and are directed to the inside surface, can be seen in the right-hand representation of FIG. 1. The nubs 16 comprise a planar surface 28 and a nub height H which is shorter than the nub length L. The ratio of nub length L to nub height H is between 1.5 and 2.5, it having been proved more advantageous when the nub length L is realized within a range of between 0.7 mm and 1.2 mm. The distances D between two nubs 16 are advantageously shorter than the nub height H and in the exemplary embodiment shown are approximately half the nub height. It can also be that the distances are chosen to be longer such that the distance D between two nubs 16 can be up to 1.5 times the nub height H. The distance can be between 0.2 mm and 1.2 mm.
[0051] FIG. 2 shows an alternative representation of the liner 1 according to FIG. 1. In the left-hand representation, it can be seen that the form of the nubs 16 is oval, the distance D is the respectively shortest distance between two nubs 16, the nub length L, in this case, designates the longer longitudinal extension and the nub width B the shorter extent of the nubs 16. The ratio between nub length and nub width can be between 1 and 2.5. The arrangement of the nubs 16 extends substantially uniformly over the entire inside surface 14 of the basic body 10, realizing intermittent channels 22 which are open inwardly and extend initially substantially from distal to proximal and at the same time, on account of the arrangement of nubs 16, realize channels which run around at the same height and intersect the channels 22 in the proximal-distal direction such that free passage of heat and moisture to the proximal edge 22 is possible from all body part that are not covered by nub surfaces 28. The emission of heat and moisture is effected, in this case, in the space between the basic body 10 and the surface of the skin.
[0052] It can be seen in the right-hand representation that the coating 22 consists of a material that differs from the material of the basic body 10, the basic body 10 and the nubs 16 are realized in one-piece or integrally and comprise good adhesion when applied on the skin. The outside coating 20 can be chosen from a material which comprises particularly good mechanical properties and good long-term durability, which does not necessarily have to concur with what the skin will tolerate, such that there is a large degree of freedom for the design of the liner 1 as a result of being able to use two different materials.
[0053] FIG. 3 shows a radial section analogous to FIG. 1, it is clear in the right-hand representation that the entire liner 1 is produced from one single material and the nubs 16 are formed integrally on the inside surface 14 of the basic body 10.
[0054] A variant to FIG. 3 is shown in FIG. 4 where the nub shape corresponds to that of FIG. 2, the nubs 16 and the basic body 10, however, are not formed in one piece, but have been subsequently attached to the basic body 10, for example as a result of adhesive bonding or by subsequent connection and a substance-to-substance bond. The liner 1 according to FIG. 4 provides for the use of only one material. As a result of attaching the nubs 16 subsequently, a greater range of variation can be covered when manufacturing liners as consideration can be shown for individual characteristics.
[0055] FIG. 5 shows a cross section through a liner 1 according to FIG. 1 perpendicular to the longitudinal extension. The channels 22 are produced as a result of arranging the nubs 16 in a uniform manner on the inside surface 14 of the basic body 10. FIG. 5 shows the closed cross section of the liner 1 such that the liner 1 is able to surround the stump (not shown) completely. In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 5, the nub height H is equal to the nub width B is equal to the distance D between two nubs 16 and consequently also to the width of the channels 22.
[0056] FIG. 6 shows an alternative representation of the liner 1 according to FIG. 6 in which the arrangement of the nubs 16 can be seen better. The nubs 16 extend along the substantially cylindrical side wall of the basic body 10 as well as in the conically tapering distal end region, no nubs 16 being provided at the lowest point of the liner.
[0057] FIG. 7 shows a cross sectional representation of a liner according to FIG. 3 and FIG. 8 shows a cross section through a liner according to FIG. 4. The difference between the embodiments according to FIGS. 7 and 8 is that the basic body 10 does not comprise a coating on the outside surface 12. The material of the nubs 16 in the exemplary embodiment in FIGS. 4 and 8 can also deviate from the material of the basic body 10.
[0058] FIG. 9 shows a top view of the inside surface 14 of a basic body 10 with different nub forms. The left-hand representation provides oval nubs 16 and the right-hand representation rectangular nubs 16. In the longitudinal extension from the distal edge 26 to the proximal edge 24, the nubs 16 extend substantially parallel and in the left-hand representation the nubs are vertically offset such that diagonally-extending channels 22 are realized next to the parallel-extending channels 22, in the right-hand representation the nubs 16 are distributed uniformly on the basic body 10 and, in each case, run parallel to one another. The basic body 10 can be provided with closure or fastening elements (not shown) such that it can be wound around a stump or a limb and fixed to it such that a liner which is open at the distal edge 26 and at the proximal edge 24 is created which can serve as an interface for a prosthetic or orthotic fitting. In principle, it is also possible to provide a sleeve-shaped or hose-shaped liner with an open distal end.
[0059] The nubs in the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 9 can be realized from a material that differs to the basic body 10. FIG. 10 shows the top view of the basic body according to FIG. 9 with nubs 16 produced from the same material as the basic body 10. The nubs 16 according to FIG. 10 can be molded at the same time as the process for forming the basic body 10 or can be attached subsequently. The nubs 16 on both basic bodies 10 form a structured surface with alternating elevations and depressions such that air circulation and moisture removal is able to be effected in the spaces between nubs.
[0060] FIG. 11 shows a radial section of the liner 1 with a basic body 10 and an outside surface 12. The insertion opening 18 on the distal edge 24 enables handling and access into the liner 1. Webs 16 which extend radially inward are provided on the inside surface of the basic body 12 such that channels 22, which extend from the closed distal end to the open proximal edge 24, are realized between the webs 16. The channels 22 are oriented in a substantially straight manner on the inside surface of the basic body 10 and enable direct removal of sweat and exchange of air. The basic body 10 is realized so as to be closed-walled and substantially watertight.
[0061] FIG. 12 shows a representation of a detail of the liner 1 with the basic body 10 and the radially inwardly projecting web 16. The height H of the web 16 is dimensioned such that, on the one hand, there is a sufficiently large amount of stability and, on the other hand, a sufficient distance between the inside surface of the basic body 10 and the surface of the skin (not shown) in order to enable removal of air and moisture.
[0062] FIG. 13 shows a cross section through the liner 11 and it can be seen from the figure that the height H and the width B of the webs 16 correspond to one another in a substantial manner such that a square cross section, proceeding from the basic body 10, is produced for the web 16. The distance D between two webs 16 corresponds substantially to the width B of the web 16, a possible range of dimension for the height H, the width B and the distance D is between 0.3 and 0.7 mm, but is not restricted to this.
[0063] FIG. 15 shows a top view of a first variant of the inside surface of a liner where, along with nubs 16 in different sizes and orientations in an oval form, webs 16 are attached or realized on the basic body 10. The channels 22 are realized between the webs 16 and nubs 16. It can be seen in FIG. 15 that the webs 16 do not have to run continuously from the distal to the proximal end, rather interruptions are also possible. In the exemplary embodiment shown, one nub 16 is arranged between two web portions 16. In principle, it is possible to arrange nubs 16 and webs 16 of different sizes and orientations on the inside surface of the basic body 10.
[0064] A further variant is shown in FIG. 16 where a plurality of webs 16 are arranged uniformly spaced apart from one another on the inside surface of the basic body 10. Uniformly realized channels 22, which extend in a straight manner, are correspondingly realized between the webs 16.
