Prosthetic system and method utilizing microprocessor-controlled electric vacuum pump

Abstract

A prosthetic system having a microprocessor-controlled socket evacuation device, and a method of retaining a prosthesis on the residual limb of an amputee using such an evacuation device. The evacuation device preferably includes at least an electrically powered vacuum pump and a power source. The microprocessor control allows the evacuation device to be operated in a manner that automatically adjusts the socket vacuum level to correspond to a determined activity level of a user. The microprocessor control may also limit operation of the evacuation device to certain determined portions of a user's gait cycle.

1 . A prosthetic system, comprising:
 a socket for receiving a residual limb;   a vacuum passageway for evacuation of air from said socket;   an evacuation device comprising an electrically powered vacuum pump and a source of electric power, said vacuum pump in communication with said vacuum passageway;   at least one pressure sensor that monitors vacuum level within said socket; and   a microprocessor in communication with said evacuation device and said at least one pressure sensor, said microprocessor programmed to use signals from said at least one pressure sensor to determine an activity level of a user of said prosthetic device and to operate said evacuation device to automatically evacuate said socket to a level commensurate with said activity level.   
     
     
         2 . The prosthetic system of  claim 1 , wherein said microprocessor is programmed to automatically increase the vacuum level within the socket as a user's activity level increases. 
     
     
         3 . The prosthetic system of  claim 1 , wherein said microprocessor is programmed to automatically decrease the vacuum level within the socket as a user's activity level decreases. 
     
     
         4 . The prosthetic system of  claim 1 , wherein a determination of a user's activity level is based on pressure fluctuations within the prosthetic socket over some period of time. 
     
     
         5 . The prosthetic system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one pressure sensor reports pressure fluctuations within the prosthetic socket and said microprocessor is programmed to correlate such pressure fluctuations to different portions of a user's gait cycle. 
     
     
         6 . The prosthetic system of  claim 5 , wherein said microprocessor is programmed to prevent operation of said evacuation device during the free swing phase of a user's gait cycle. 
     
     
         7 . The prosthetic system of  claim 1 , wherein said microprocessor is programmed to track signals from said at least one pressure sensor over some period of time in order to obtain a target pressure range for a given activity level. 
     
     
         8 . The prosthetic system of  claim 1 , wherein said microprocessor is programmed to track the amount of pressure that the residual limb of a user of said prosthetic device has been exposed to within said socket over some period of time. 
     
     
         9 . The prosthetic system of  claim 1 , wherein said microprocessor is further in communication with one or more of an accelerometer, a gyroscope and a force sensor that are associated with said prosthetic device, and said microprocessor is programmed to use signals from one or more thereof to help determine a user's activity level and/or portion of a user's gait cycle. 
     
     
         10 . A vacuum-based method of retaining a prosthesis on a residual limb of an amputee, comprising:
 providing a prosthesis having a socket for receiving a residual limb, said socket including a vacuum passageway for evacuation of air from said socket;   providing an evacuation device comprising an electrically powered vacuum pump and a source of electric power, and placing said vacuum pump in communication with said vacuum passageway in said socket;   providing at least one pressure sensor that monitors vacuum level within said socket; and   placing a microprocessor in communication with said evacuation device and said at least one pressure sensor, said microprocessor programmed to use signals from said at least one pressure sensor to determine an activity level of an amputee while wearing said prosthesis and to operate said evacuation device to automatically evacuate said socket to a level commensurate with said activity level so as to retain said prosthesis on the amputee's residual limb.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said microprocessor is programmed to automatically increase the vacuum level within the socket as an amputee's activity level increases. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said microprocessor is programmed to automatically decrease the vacuum level within the socket as an amputee's activity level decreases. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein a determination of an amputee's activity level is based on pressure fluctuations within the prosthetic socket over some period of time. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said at least one pressure sensor reports pressure fluctuations within the prosthetic socket and said microprocessor correlates such pressure fluctuations to different portions of an amputee's gait cycle. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said microprocessor is programmed to prevent operation of said evacuation device during the free swing phase of an amputee's gait cycle. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said microprocessor tracks signals from said at least one pressure sensor over some period of time in order to obtain a target pressure range for a given activity level. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said microprocessor tracks the amount of pressure that an amputee's residual limb has been exposed to within said socket over some period of time. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said microprocessor is further in communication with one or more of an accelerometer, a gyroscope and a force sensor that are associated with said prosthetic device, and said microprocessor uses signals from one or more thereof to help determine an amputee's activity level and/or to identify a portion of an amputee's gait cycle.