Expandable socket liner
A tension adjustment mechanism transforming the rotation of a dial into a change of volume of a worn-article, such as a prosthetic socket, to improve the fit of the worn-article.
1 . An apparatus configured to adjust compression of a body part within a worn article, the worn article having an inner surface disposed towards the body part that defines an interior region, the apparatus comprising:
a volume-adjustable liner comprising an outer surface at least a portion of which is connected directly or indirectly to the inner surface of the worn article, and an inner surface, all or part of said inner surface of the volume-adjustable liner configured to press directly or indirectly against the body part;
a tensioning element; and
an adjustable tensioning mechanism for adjusting a tension force or forces applied to the tensioning element;
wherein the tensioning element has a first portion connected to the adjustable tensioning mechanism and a second portion directly or indirectly connected to the volume-adjustable liner;
wherein about 50% or more of the second portion of the tensioning element is contained within the interior region of the worn article;
wherein adjusting the tensioning adjustment mechanism applies the tension force or forces to the tensioning element, which changes a physical volume and/or a distance between at least a portion of the inner surface of the worn article and at least a portion of the inner surface of the volume-adjustable liner, and wherein changing the physical volume or the distance is operative to compress the volume-adjustable liner directly or indirectly against the body part, thereby altering a fit of the worn article relative to the volume-adjustable liner, the body part, or both.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the change in the physical volume and/or the distance between the at least the portion of the inner surface of the worn article and the at least the portion of the inner surface of the volume-adjustable liner is reversible by reducing the tension force or forces applied to the tensioning element.
3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the at least the portion of the inner surface of the worn article and the at least the portion of the inner surface of the volume-adjustable liner are connected by at least one four bar linkage, and wherein the at least one four bar linkage is capable of changing the physical volume and/or the distance between the at least the portion of the inner surface of the worn article and the at least the portion of the inner surface of the volume-adjustable liner inner.
4 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the at least the portion of the inner surface of the worn article and the at least the portion of the inner surface of the volume-adjustable liner are connected by at least one screw, and wherein the at least one screw is capable of changing the physical volume and/or the distance between the at least the portion of the inner surface of the worn article and the at least the portion of the inner surface of the volume-adjustable liner.
5 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the at least the portion of the inner surface of the worn article and the at least the portion of the inner surface of the volume-adjustable liner are connected by at least one wedge, and wherein the at least one wedge is capable of changing the physical volume and/or the distance between the at least the portion of the inner surface of the worn article and the at least the portion of the inner surface of the volume-adjustable liner.
6 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the at least the portion of the inner surface of the worn article and the at least the portion of the inner surface of the volume-adjustable liner are connected by at least one lever, and wherein the at least one lever is capable of changing the physical volume and/or the distance between the at least the portion of the inner surface of the worn article and the at least the portion of the inner surface of the volume-adjustable liner.
7 . The apparatus of claim 2 , the at least the portion of the inner surface of the worn article and the at least the portion of the inner surface of the volume-adjustable liner are connected by at least one cam, and wherein the at least one cam is capable of changing the physical volume and/or the distance between the at least the portion of the inner surface of the worn article and the at least the portion of the inner surface of the volume-adjustable liner.
8 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the at least the portion of the inner surface of the worn article and the at least the portion of the inner surface of the volume-adjustable liner are connected by at least one set of interlaced digits, and wherein the at least one set of interlaced digits is capable of changing the physical volume and/or the distance between the at least the portion of the inner surface of the worn article and the at least the portion of the inner surface of the volume-adjustable liner.
9 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the at least the portion of the inner surface of the worn article and the at least the portion of the inner surface of the volume-adjustable liner are connected by at least one bi-stable or multi-stable element, and wherein the at least one bi-stable or multi-stable element is capable of changing the physical volume and/or the distance between the at least the portion of the inner surface of the worn article and the at least the portion of the inner surface of the volume-adjustable liner.
10 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the at least the portion of the inner surface of the worn article and the at least the portion of the inner surface of the volume-adjustable liner are connected by or comprise at least one compliant element, and wherein the at least one compliant element is capable of changing the physical volume and/or the distance between the at least the portion of the inner surface of the worn article and the at least the portion of the inner surface of the volume-adjustable liner.
11 . The apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising at least one elastic element, wherein the at least one elastic element applies a counterforce to the tensioning element, and wherein the at least one elastic element reverses the change in the physical volume and/or the distance between the at least the portion of the inner surface of the worn article and the at least the portion of the inner surface of the volume-adjustable liner.
12 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein a first end of the at least one elastic element is connected directly or indirectly to the inner surface of the volume-adjustable liner and wherein a second end of the at least one elastic element is connected to the outer surface of the volume-adjustable liner, and wherein the at least one elastic element pulls the inner surface of the volume-adjustable liner and the outer surface of the volume-adjustable liner together or pushes the inner surface of the worn article and the inner or outer surface of the volume-adjustable liner.
13 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the at least one elastic element is in-line with the tensioning element.
14 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the at least the portion of the inner surface of the worn article and the at least the portion of the inner surface of the volume-adjustable liner, the adjustable tensioning mechanism, the tensioning element, or combinations thereof, are manufactured together as a single article.
15 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the worn article is a prosthetic socket.
16 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the adjustable tensioning mechanism, the tensioning element, or combinations thereof, provide both a separating force to increase the distance between the at least a portion of the inner surface of the worn article and the at least the portion of the inner surface of the volume-adjustable liner and a translational force substantially parallel to the at least the portion of the inner surface of the volume-adjustable liner.
17 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein applying the tension force or forces to the tensioning element increases the physical volume and/or the distance between the at least the portion of the inner surface of the worn article and the at least the portion of the inner surface of the volume-adjustable liner.
18 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein applying the tension force or forces to the tensioning element decreases the physical volume and/or the distance between the at least the portion of the inner surface of the worn article and the at least the portion of the inner surface of the volume-adjustable liner.
19 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising one or more sensors to monitor the fit of the worn article and/or to provide sensor information to a processor, the processor operative to directly or indirectly activate a motor to automatically adjust the tension force or forces applied to the tensioning element.
20 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the tensioning adjustment mechanism allows the wearer of the apparatus to adjust the fit of the worn article by increasing or decreasing the tension force or forces applied to the tensioning element.
21 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least the portion of the inner surface of the volume-adjustable liner is semi-rigid or flexible, and wherein by increasing the tension force or forces applied to or within the tensioning element, the at least the portion of the inner surface of the volume-adjustable liner distributes a substantially uniform pressure across a region of the body part on which the apparatus is worn.
22 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising at least one pulley system, wherein the at least one pulley system allows for the tensioning element to be redirected, or to provide a mechanical advantage, within the interior region, outside the interior region, or combinations thereof.
23 . A system device for modifying an interior volume of a worn article, the worn article having an inner surface that defines an interior region: wherein modifying the interior volume adjusts a fit of the worn article to a body part, wherein the system includes at least one wall disposed within the interior region, wherein the at least one wall comprises at least one rigid section and at least one compliant section, wherein at least one tensioning element directly or indirectly connects the at least one compliant section to the at least one rigid section, such that when a force is applied to the tensioning element using a tension adjustment mechanism, the at least one compliant section is forced to bow inward, causing it to reduce a distance between the at least one wall and the body part.
24 . The system device of claim 23 , wherein the at least one compliant section and the at least one rigid section are continuous.
25 . The system device of claim 23 , wherein the compliant section comprises slots and/or spaces that allow the at least one wall to move inward towards the body part as tension is increased in the tensioning element.