Vacuum chamber socket system

1. A prosthetic socket comprising: a rigid, structural, load-bearing, air impervious inner wall generally in the form of a close ended cup having an open inner wall proximal end and a closed inner wall distal end area, the inner wall defining an inner volume adapted to contain a distal portion of a residuum, and the inner wall proximal end adapted to receive a distal portion of a residuum to be located within the inner volume; a generally continuous, rigid, air impervious structural, load-bearing outer wall section having an outer wall section proximal end and a closed outer wall section distal end area; a chamber defined between an outer side of the inner wall and an inner side of the outer wall section; at least one aperture in the inner wall communicating the inner volume of the inner wall with the chamber, the aperture being substantially smaller in cross-section than the closed inner wall distal end area; a one-way valve disposed within the at least one aperture and the inner volume being in one-way communication with the chamber; and a port communicating the chamber to the atmosphere outside the outer wall section for establishing a partial vacuum within both the chamber and the inner volume in order to effect a vacuum suspension of the prosthetic socket on a residuum,

wherein the port comprises a one-way valve for allowing air to flow only from the chamber to the atmosphere outside the prosthetic socket.

2. The prosthetic socket according to claim 1 , wherein the port further comprises a release element for allowing air to flow from the atmosphere outside the prosthetic socket into the chamber.

3. The prosthetic socket according to claim 1 , further comprising a prosthetic adapter located along a base portion of the outer wall section distal end area.

4. The prosthetic socket according to claim 1 , wherein the chamber is sealed other than the at least one aperture communicating with the receiving portion and the port.

5. A prosthetic socket comprising: a rigid, structural, load-bearing, air impervious inner wall generally in the form of a close ended cup having an open inner wall proximal end and a closed inner wall distal end area, the inner wall defining an inner volume adapted to contain a distal portion of a residual limb, and the inner wall proximal end adapted to receive a distal portion of a residual limb to be located within the inner volume; a generally continuous, rigid, air impervious structural, load-bearing outer wall section having an outer wall section proximal end and a closed outer wall section distal end area; a chamber defined between an outer side of the inner wall and an inner side of the outer wall section, the outer wall section distal end area having side walls forming part of the chamber; at least one aperture in the inner wall communicating the inner volume of the inner wall with the chamber; a one-way valve disposed within the at least one aperture and the inner volume being in one-way communication with the chamber; and a port formed through the thickness of the side walls of the outer wall section distal end area and communicating the chamber with an area external of the outer wall section, the port communicating to an area outside the outer wall section via a one-way check valve operational so as to selectively permit evacuation of air out of the chamber but not ingress of air into the chamber, the port defined by and extending through a thickness of the outer wall section.

6. The prosthetic socket according to claim 5 , wherein the port further comprises a release element for allowing air to flow from the atmosphere outside the prosthetic socket into the chamber.

7. The prosthetic socket according to claim 5 , further comprising a prosthetic adapter located along a base portion of the closed outer wall section distal end area.

8. The prosthetic socket according to claim 5 , wherein the chamber is sealed other than the at least one aperture communicating with the receiving portion and the port.

9. A prosthetic socket system comprising:

a rigid, air impervious socket defining a receiving portion for receiving a residuum in a proximal portion thereof, and a distally located chamber sharing a common wall with the receiving portion, the common wall including at least one aperture extending therethrough located at a distal end section of the socket;

a one-way valve disposed within the at least one aperture such that the receiving portion is in one-way communication with the chamber so that air within the receiving portion may be expelled through the one-way valve and into the chamber when a residuum is received within the receiving portion;

a port communicating the chamber to the atmosphere outside the socket for establishing a partial vacuum within both the chamber and the receiving portion in order to effect a vacuum suspension of the socket on a residuum;

a sealing sleeve disposed in sealing contact with an outer surface of the proximal portion of the socket and for being disposed in sealing contact with a residuum, so that the partial vacuum in the chamber and the receiving portion is maintained; and

wherein the port comprises a one-way valve for allowing air to flow only from the chamber to the atmosphere outside the shell.

10. The prosthetic socket system according to claim 9 , wherein the port further comprises a release element for allowing air to flow from the atmosphere outside the shell into the chamber.

11. The prosthetic socket system according to claim 9 , further comprising a prosthetic adapter located at a distal end area of the socket.

12. The prosthetic socket system according to claim 9 , wherein the chamber is sealed other than the at least one aperture communicating with the receiving portion and the port.

13. The prosthetic socket system according to claim 9 , wherein the sealing sleeve comprises a plurality of annular protrusions disposed on the inner surface of the sleeve in both a proximal and distal region of the sleeve.

14. The prosthetic socket system according to claim 9 , further comprising a liner for being received on a residuum, such that when a residuum is placed within the receiving portion, the liner contacts an inner surface of the receiving portion.

15. The prosthetic socket system according to claim 14 , further comprising a sealing sleeve disposed in sealing contact with an outer surface of the proximal portion of the shell and for being disposed in sealing contact with the liner, so that the partial vacuum in the chamber and the receiving portion is maintained.

16. The prosthetic socket system according to claim 15 , wherein the sealing sleeve comprises a plurality of annular protrusions disposed on the inner surface of the sleeve in both a proximal and distal region of the sleeve.

17. The prosthetic socket system according to claim 9 , further comprising an evacuation device removably connected to the port for creating the partial vacuum within the chamber and the receiving portion.

18. The prosthetic socket system according to claim 9 , wherein the port is formed through a thickness of a distal end area side wall of the shell.