Prosthesis socket and method for controlling an adjustment of an inner circumference of a prosthesis socket

Abstract

A prosthesis socket having a proximal insertion opening and an inner circumference which at least partially surrounds a limb stump, at least one connection device for a prosthesis component, which is connectable to the prosthesis sockets at least one actuator operable to change the inner circumference of the prosthesis socket, and at least one sensor coupled to a control device, wherein the control device is connected to the actuator and activates or deactivates same, depending on the received sensor signals, and to a method for adjusting the inner circumference.

1 - 6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . A prosthesis socket comprising:
 a proximal insertion opening and an inner circumference which is configured to at least partially surround a limb stump;   at least one connection device for a prosthesis component, which is connectable to the prosthesis socket;   a volume partially defined by the inner circumference of the proximal insertion opening within the prosthesis socket; and   at least one actuator; wherein the actuator is configured to change the inner circumference of the prosthesis socket, changing the volume.   
     
     
         8 . The prosthesis socket according to  claim 7 , wherein the actuator is configured to be driven manually or by a motor. 
     
     
         9 . The prosthesis socket according to  claim 7 , wherein the prosthesis socket is designed in multiple parts with at least two support elements which are configured to receive the limb stump in between the at least two support elements. 
     
     
         10 . The prosthesis socket according to  claim 9 , wherein the at least two support elements are formed or mounted resiliently. 
     
     
         11 . The prosthesis socket according to  claim 9 , wherein the at least two support elements are designed to overlap one another in a circumferential direction. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The prosthesis socket according to  claim 7 , further comprising at least one tensioning device arranged on the prosthesis socket and configured to change the inner circumference. 
     
     
         14 . The prosthesis socket according to  claim 13 , wherein the tensioning device is designed as a traction member, a pneumatically or hydraulically driven spreading or tensioning member, a longitudinally slidable spreading or closing element, a movable ring, a tilting element, or a rotatable actuation element. 
     
     
         15 . The prosthesis socket according to  claim 13 , wherein the tensioning device is guided in at least one of eyelets, channels or at least one deflection roller. 
     
     
         16 . The prosthesis socket according to  claim 13 , wherein multiple tensioning devices are arranged independently of one another along a proximal-distal extent of the prosthesis socket. 
     
     
         17 . The prosthesis socket according to  claim 13 , wherein the at least one tensioning device acts in a circumferential direction of the limb stump. 
     
     
         18 . The prosthesis socket according to  claim 7 , wherein, in the closed state, a contact pressure applied to the limb stump by the actuator decreases in a proximal direction. 
     
     
         19 . A method for controlling an adjustment of an inner circumference of a prosthesis socket according to  claim 7 , wherein, when at least one of a predetermined position of the limb stump and a compressive force exerted on the limb stump is detected by at least one sensor, the actuator is activated or deactivated automatically to change the volume. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , further comprising support elements movable apart from one another by the actuator for opening of the prosthesis socket, a wall socket adapted to be pulled apart or, for the change in circumference, a tensioning device acting against a resilient pretensioning force of the support elements or of the socket wall is relaxed. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 19  further comprising support elements or a socket wall of the prosthesis socket are moved towards one another by the actuator or by their resilient behavior from a widened position to a tensioned position with an inner circumference which is reduced in comparison to the starting position. 
     
     
         22 . A method for adjusting an inner circumference of a prosthesis socket, comprising:
 opening the prosthesis socket by moving apart support elements from one another with an actuator or pulling apart a socket wall;   changing an inner circumference of the prosthesis socket by relaxing a tensioning device acting against a resilient pretensioning force of the support elements or of the socket wall and changing a volume partially defined by the inner circumference of the prosthesis socket.   
     
     
         23 . The prosthesis socket according to  claim 7 , further comprising at least one sensor coupled to a control device and operable to generate control signals. 
     
     
         24 . The prosthesis socket according to  claim 7 , further comprising a control device connected to the actuator, wherein the control device activates or deactivates the actuator depending on received sensor signals. 
     
     
         25 . The prosthesis socket according to  claim 7 , wherein the actuator is designed as a drive for a pump, a sliding element, a lever, a winding device for traction members, a spreading element, a gear, a device for the activation of a shape memory alloy or of an electroactive polymer, or a switchable magnet. 
     
     
         26 . The prosthesis socket according to  claim 7 , further comprising a switch, a contact switch or a sensor for the detection of an introduced limb stump is arranged in a distal end area of the prosthesis socket. 
     
     
         27 . The prosthesis socket according to  claim 7 , further comprising at least one of an internal pressure sensor and a motor current sensor for the acquisition of the pressure applied by a support element to the limb stump is arranged on a support element. 
     
     
         28 . The prosthesis socket according to  claim 7 , wherein the volume comprises at least one of a bladder, a cushion, and a pocket. 
     
     
         29 . The prosthesis socket according to  claim 28 , wherein the volume is configured to be inflated or deflated to change the volume of the prosthesis socket, a pressure of the volume, and a pressure distribution on the limb stump. 
     
     
         30 . The prosthesis socket according to  claim 29 , wherein if a contact pressure exceeds or decreases below a threshold value, an adjustment of the contact pressure is initiated to change the contact pressure an optimized predetermined pressure. 
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the volume comprises at least one of a bladder, a cushion, and a pocket. 
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 31 , further comprising inflating or deflating the volume to change the volume of the prosthesis socket, a pressure of the volume, and a pressure distribution on the limb stump. 
     
     
         33 . The method according to  claim 32 , wherein if a contact pressure exceeds or decreases below a threshold value, an adjustment of the contact pressure is initiated to change the contact pressure an optimized predetermined pressure. 
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein, in a closed state, a contact pressure applied to the limb stump by the actuator decreases in a proximal direction. 
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 34 , wherein the prosthesis socket further comprises at least one tensioning device arranged on the prosthesis socket and configured to change the inner circumference, wherein the at least one tensioning device comprises at least one of a traction member, a pneumatically or hydraulically driven spreading or tensioning member, a longitudinally slidable spreading or closing element, a movable ring, a tilting element, and a rotatable actuation element. 
     
     
         36 . The method according to  claim 22 , wherein the volume comprises at least one of a bladder, a cushion, and a pocket. 
     
     
         37 . The method according to  claim 36 , further comprising inflating or deflating the volume to change the volume of the prosthesis socket, a pressure of the volume, and a pressure distribution on the limb stump. 
     
     
         38 . The method according to  claim 37 , wherein if a contact pressure exceeds or decreases below a threshold value, an adjustment of the contact pressure is initiated to change the contact pressure an optimized predetermined pressure. 
     
     
         39 . The method according to  claim 22 , wherein, in a closed state, a contact pressure applied to the limb stump by the actuator decreases in a proximal direction. 
     
     
         40 . The method according to  claim 39 , wherein the prosthesis socket further comprises at least one tensioning device arranged on the prosthesis socket and configured to change the inner circumference, wherein the at least one tensioning device comprises at least one of a traction member, a pneumatically or hydraulically driven spreading or tensioning member, a longitudinally slidable spreading or closing element, a movable ring, a tilting element, and a rotatable actuation element. 
     
     
         41 . A prosthesis socket comprising:
 a proximal insertion opening and an inner circumference which is configured to at least partially surround a limb stump;   at least one connection device for a prosthesis component, which is connectable to the prosthesis socket; and   a volume partially defined by the inner circumference of the proximal insertion opening within the prosthesis socket, wherein a pressure distribution within the volume decreases in a proximal direction.