COOLING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A PROSTHETIC SOCKET
A prosthetic socket cooling system and method includes a strap for coupling about a limb fitted with a prosthetic socket. One or more thermally conductive heat spreaders are associated with the strap and may be at least partially seated underneath the prosthetic socket. A heat extraction subsystem is coupled to at least one of the lengthy heat spreaders and carried by the strap. In one version, heat spreaders may form sections of the strap.
1 . A prosthetic socket cooling system comprising:
a strap for coupling about a limb fitted with a prosthetic socket;
one or more lengthy thermally conductive heat spreaders extending from the strap and at least partially seated underneath the prosthetic socket; and
a heat extraction subsystem coupled to at least one of the lengthy heat spreaders.
2 . The system of claim 1 in which the heat spreaders are thin sheets with rounded corners.
3 . The system of claim 1 in which the heat spreaders are made of copper, aluminum, or graphite, or other conductive material.
4 . The system of claim 1 in which the heat spreaders include one or more heat pipes.
5 . The system of claim 1 in which the strap includes a thermally conductive material.
6 . The system of claim 1 in which the heat extraction subsystem includes a finned heat sink and a fan positioned to urge air through the fins of the heat sink.
7 . The system of claim 6 in which the heat extraction subsystem further includes a TEC.
8 . The system of claim 7 in which the TEC is coupled between the heat spreader and the heat sink.
9 . The system of claim 7 in which the heat extraction subsystem further includes a user interface, an electronic section, and a battery for powering the TEC, the fan, and the electronics section.
10 . The system of claim 9 further including a housing about the fan, the TEC, the heat sink, the user interface, the electronics section, and the battery.
11 . The system of claim 9 in which the electronics section further includes a controller subsystem and one or more temperature sensors.
12 . The system of claim 11 in which the controller is configured to operate the fan and/or the TEC based on signals from the user interface and the temperature sensors.
13 . A method of cooling a prosthetic socket, the method comprising:
strapping a plurality of spaced lengthy thermally conductive heat spreaders about a limb fitted with a prosthetic socket;
placing the lengthy thermally conductive heat spreaders underneath the prosthetic socket;
coupling a heat extraction subsystem to at least one of the lengthy heat spreaders; and
operating the heat extraction subsystem to drive heat from the prosthetic socket to the external environment via the heat spreaders and the heat extraction subsystem.
14 . The method of claim 13 in which the heat spreaders are thin sheets with rounded corners.
15 . The method of claim 13 in which the heat spreaders are made of copper, aluminum, or graphite or other thermally conductive materials.
16 . The method of claim 13 in which the heat spreaders include one or more heat pipes.
17 . The method of claim 13 in which the strap includes thermally conductive material.
18 . The method of claim 13 in which the heat extraction subsystem includes a finned heat sink and a fan positioned to urge air through the fins of the heat sink.
19 . The method of claim 18 in which the heat extraction subsystem further includes a TEC.
20 . The method of claim 19 in which the TEC is coupled between the heat spreaders and the heat sink.
21 . The method of claim 20 in which the heat extraction subsystem further includes a user interface, an electronic section, and a battery for powering the TEC, the fan, and the electronics section.
22 . The method of claim 21 further including a housing about the fan, the TEC, the heat sink, the user interface, the electronics section, and the battery.
23 . The method of claim 21 in which the electronics section further includes a controller subsystem and one or more temperature sensors.
24 . The method of claim 23 in which the controller is configured to operate the fan and/or the TEC based on signals from the user interface and the temperature sensors.
25 . A system for cooling a prosthetic socket on a limb, the system comprising:
a strap for coupling about the limb above the prosthetic socket;
one or more thermally conductive heat spreaders associated with the strap; and
at least one heat extraction subsystem carried by the strap.
26 . The system of claim 25 in which the heat spreaders extend from the strap and can be disposed underneath the prosthetic socket.
27 . The system of claim 25 in which the heat spreaders are with a part of the strap and/or form sections of the strap.
28 . The system of claim 25 in which the heat spreaders are thin sheets with rounded corners.
29 . The system of claim 25 in which the heat spreaders are made of copper, aluminum, or graphite or other conductive material.
30 . The system of claim 25 in which the heat extraction subsystem includes a finned heat sink and a fan positioned to urge air through the fins of the heat sink.
31 . The system of claim 30 in which the heat extraction subsystem further includes a TEC.
32 . The system of claim 31 in which the TEC is coupled between the heat spreader and the heat sink.