Method and system for assembly of a modular prosthetic socket based on residual limb metrics
A method of providing a modular prosthetic socket for a residual limb of a patient may involve receiving digital data defining a three-dimensional digital profile of the residual limb and selecting prosthetic socket components from component-specific inventories, based at least in part on the digital profile. The selected prosthetic socket components may include: multiple longitudinal struts; one or more proximal brim members for attachment to the longitudinal struts; and a distal socket base to which the longitudinal struts attach at or near their distal ends. The method may further involve providing the selected prosthetic components to an operator for assembling into the modular prosthetic socket. The prosthetic socket, when assembled, defines an internal space substantially complementary to the profile of the residual limb.
1. A method of providing a modular prosthetic socket for a residual limb of a patient, the method comprising:
receiving digital data defining a three-dimensional digital profile of the residual limb;
selecting modular prosthetic socket components from component-specific inventories, the selected modular prosthetic socket components comprising:
multiple longitudinal struts, wherein each strut comprises a proximal end, a distal end, and a thermoplastic-fiber composite material,
one or more proximal brim members for attachment to the longitudinal struts at or near the proximal ends of the longitudinal struts, and
a distal socket base to which the longitudinal struts attach at or near their distal ends;
thermally reforming at least one of the longitudinal struts to improve a fit of the prosthetic socket to the residual limb; and
providing the selected prosthetic components to an operator for assembling into the modular prosthetic socket, wherein the prosthetic socket, when assembled, includes the at one of the longitudinal struts and defines an internal space substantially complementary to the profile of the residual limb.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the component-specific inventories comprises at least one of multiple sizes or shapes of the respective component.
3. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising assembling the selected components together to yield the modular prosthetic socket.
4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein assembling the selected components together comprises making adjustments to any of the components or to connections between the components that affect a configuration of the internal space defined by the prosthetic socket.
5. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising, before the providing step, packaging the selected components as a kit with instructions for use.
6. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising, before the receiving step, profiling the residual limb of the patient with regard to metrics of dimension and shape to yield the digital profile.
7. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising rendering the digital profile to be operable for at least one of selecting the prosthetic socket components or thermally reforming the components.
8. A method of providing modular prosthetic sockets for residual limbs of multiple patients, the method comprising:
receiving digital data defining three-dimensional profiles of the residual limbs of the multiple patients;
selecting modular prosthetic socket components from component-specific inventories for assembly of multiple modular prosthetic sockets, the selected modular prosthetic socket components comprising:
multiple longitudinal struts, wherein each strut comprises a proximal end, a distal end, and a thermoplastic-fiber composite material;
one or more proximal brim members for attachment to the longitudinal struts at or near the proximal ends of the longitudinal struts; and
a distal socket base to which the longitudinal struts attach at or near their distal ends; and
thermally reforming at least a subset of the selected longitudinal struts in relation to the received digital data;
providing the selected prosthetic components to at least one operator, wherein each of the modular prosthetic sockets, when assembled from the selected modular prosthetic socket components, includes at least one longitudinal strut and defines an internal space substantially complementary to the profile of the residual limb of one of the multiple patients.
9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein at least one of the component inventories comprises at least one of multiple sizes or shapes of the respective component.
10. The method according to claim 8 , further comprising assembling the selected components together to yield the modular prosthetic sockets.
11. The method according to claim 8 , wherein assembling the selected components together comprises making adjustments to any of the components that affect a configuration of the internal space defined by any of the prosthetic sockets.
12. The method according to claim 8 , wherein assembling the selected components together comprises making adjustments to connections between the components that affect a configuration of the internal space defined by any of the prosthetic sockets.
13. The method according to claim 8 , further comprising, before the providing step, packaging the selected components as a kit with instructions for use.
14. The method according to claim 8 , further comprising, before the receiving step, profiling the residual limb of the multiple patients with regard to metrics of dimension and shape to yield the digital profile of each of the multiple patients.
15. The method according to claim 14 , further comprising rendering the digital profiles to be operable for at least one of selecting the prosthetic socket components or thermally reforming the components.
16. A system for providing modular prosthetic sockets for residual limbs of multiple patients, the system comprising:
an inventory of modular prosthetic socket components for assembling multiple modular prosthetic sockets, the prosthetic socket components comprising,
multiple longitudinal struts, wherein each strut comprises a proximal, a distal end, and a thermoplastic-fiber composite material,
one or more proximal brim members for attachment to the longitudinal struts at or near the proximal ends of the longitudinal struts, and
a distal socket base to which the longitudinal struts attach at or near their distal ends;
a data storage device at least temporarily storing a digital profile of the residual limb and storing instructions for selecting patient-specific prosthetic socket components from the inventory; and
a processor configured to execute the instructions to perform a method, the performed method comprising:
receiving digital data defining three-dimensional profiles of the residual limbs of the multiple patients, and
selecting the patient-specific prosthetic socket components from the inventory for assembly of multiple modular prosthetic sockets, based at least in part on the digital data;
a thermal reformation system adapted to apply thermal energy and reform the longitudinal struts based at least in part on the digital data,
wherein each of the modular prosthetic sockets, when assembled from the selected prosthetic components, includes at least one longitudinal strut reformed by the thermal reformation system and defines an internal space substantially complementary to the profiles of the residual limbs.
17. The system according to claim 16 , wherein at least one of the component inventories comprises at least one of multiple sizes or shapes of the respective component.
18. The system according to claim 16 , wherein the selected prosthetic components are adapted to assemble together at adjustable connections.