Preform for making a prosthetic limb socket
US6551683B2 · kind B2 · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 23, 2001 |
| Grant date | Apr 22, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 17, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T428/22
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A preform for making a prosthetic limb socket includes an injection molded flat circular disk of rigid thermoplastics material, and the disk has a peripheral portion with an embedded reinforcing ring which was spaced as an insert within the mold cavity. The preform is heated within an oven on a flat surface support ring, and the softened disk is manually drawn and stretched downwardly over a positive model of a residual limb while vacuum is introduced through small holes within the model to form a plastic socket which conforms to the positive model. After the plastic cools, the annular base portion of the disk with the embedded reinforcing ring is trimmed from the socket, and the model is removed from the socket.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.