PROSTHETIC SOCKET WITH SELF-CONTAINED VACUUM RESERVOIR

摘要

A prosthetic socket (10) having a self-contained vacuum reservoir chamber (34) includes a rigid, load-bearing inner socket member (12) for receiving a residual limb and an outer, rigid, load-bearing wall section (26) attached to the inner wall section in a manner providing a vacuum reservoir chamber between the inner wall and the outer wall section. The vacuum reservoir chamber communicates with the inner volume of the inner wall through a vacuum transfer port (36) and the vacuum reservoir chamber may be evacuated via an evacuation port (38) having an appropriate one-way check valve (40) permitting withdrawal of air from the vacuum reservoir chamber while preventing ingress of air into the chamber. A method for making the prosthetic socket is disclosed.