Polymeric prosthetic devices with heat control capabilities

摘要

Prosthetic liners, prosthetic sockets and prosthetic suspension sleeves, as well as orthotic components, having enhanced thermally conductivity and/or enhanced heat absorption capabilities. Such components may be used in various combinations to create assemblies and systems that are operative to better transfer heat away from and/or absorb heat produced by residual or intact limbs of a user.

主权项

1. A thermally conductive prosthetic socket configured to fit over at least a portion of a residual limb having a distal end, comprising:
a hard inner wall configured to reach circumferentially around the residual limb, the inner wall having a proximal end that is open for insertion of the residual limb and a distal end configured to reach radially across the distal end of the residual limb; an outer wall surrounding the inner wall across an internal space that reaches circumferentially entirely around the inner wall radially between the inner wall and the outer wall; and a phase change material residing in the internal space and reaching circumferentially entirely around the internal space; wherein the outer wall is sealed to the inner wall to define a double wall structure enclosing and isolating the internal space and the phase change material from an exterior of the double wall structure; and wherein one or both of the inner wall and outer wall of the socket are comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of a resin doped with at least one conductive additive and an inherently thermally conductive resin formed by an additive manufacturing technique.