IP Library Granted Patent US 12,594,173
Granted Patent B2
US 12,594,173 · App. 18/594,940 · Granted Apr 7, 2026

Orthotic and prosthetic device and manufacturing system and method

Inventors: Michael E. Tompkins (Austin, TX); Antonio Dias (Phoenix, AZ)
Assignee: Hanger, Inc.
A61F2/80B33Y80/00A61F2002/7875A61F2002/802B33Y50/00
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,594,173
App. No.
18/594,940
Granted
Apr 7, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A prosthetic device includes a socket, fasteners, and a pylon. The socket defines a cavity configured to receive a residual limb of a user. The socket includes a base defining multiple blind-holes. Each of the fasteners are configured to be received within a corresponding one of the blind-holes. The fasteners each include internal threads. The pylon includes through-holes that are aligned with a corresponding one of the blind-holes. The pylon is configured to be directly coupled with the base of the socket through externally threaded fasteners that extend through the through-holes and threadingly couple with the internal threads of the plurality of fasteners.

Claims (12)

1 . A method comprising:

obtaining scan data of a patient's lower limb from a scan device;

using computer assisted design to generate a print file of an ankle foot orthotic (AFO) based on the scan data; and

performing additive manufacturing by a 3D printer to produce the AFO using the print file of the AFO, wherein the AFO comprises an outer shell configured to receive a patient interfacing insert, wherein the outer shell and the patient interfacing insert are manufactured by the 3D printer;

wherein using the computer assisted design further comprises designing a print file of the patient interfacing insert based on the scan data, and using processing circuitry configured to perform additive manufacturing by the 3D printer to produce the patient interfacing insert of the AFO using the print file of the patient interfacing insert.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the patient interfacing insert is offset from the outer shell.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein using the computer assisted design to generate the print file of the AFO comprises modifying a position, thickness, and trim area of the print file of the AFO such that the AFO produced using the print file of the AFO is configured to provide support for the patient's lower limb.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein using the computer assisted design to generate the print file of the AFO includes drawing lines and shapes onto the scan data of the patient's lower limb and generating the print file of the AFO based on the lines and shapes.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the AFO has the form of a wearable device configured to be worn on the patient's lower limb and at least partially surround a portion of the patient's calf, ankle, or foot.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the patient interfacing insert is configured to abut the patient's lower limb in a plurality of locations.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the patient interfacing insert comprises a plastic material.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the patient interfacing insert and the outer shell comprise a thermoplastic material.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 25, 2024
From: HANGER, INC.
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 069016/0080 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 18, 2024
From: TOMPKINS, MICHAEL E.; DIAS, ANTONIO
To: HANGER, INC.
Reel/Frame 066805/0779 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 17373147 · Jul 12, 2021
Continuation In Part 16050849 · Jul 31, 2018
Continuation PCTUS2017015981 · Feb 1, 2017
Provisional Application 62290254 · Feb 2, 2016
Related Publication 20240245535A1 · Jul 25, 2024
References Cited (113)
US 667534A · Kimball · 1901 [cited by applicant]
US 2790254A · Burns · 1957 [cited by applicant]
US 3490078A · Perez, Jr. · 1970 [cited by applicant]
US 4134159A · Wilson · 1979 [cited by applicant]
US 4283800A · Wilson · 1981 [cited by applicant]
US 4702255A · Schenkl · 1987 [cited by applicant]
US 5458657A · Rasmusson · 1995 [cited by applicant]
US 5653766A · Naser · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 6428494B1 · Schwenn et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6605118B2 · Capper et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6669736B2 · Slemker et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 7162075B2 · Littlefield et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 7227979B2 · Littlefield et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 7242798B2 · Littlefield et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 7356379B2 · Slemker · 2008 [cited by examiner]
US 8838263B2 · Sivak · 2014 [cited by examiner]
US 9161848B2 · Tompkins · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9232827B1 · Penn · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9402760B2 · Gordon et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9469075B2 · Zachariasen · 2016 [cited by examiner]
US 9480581B2 · Layman et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9486334B2 · Tompkins · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9610731B2 · Zachariasen · 2017 [cited by examiner]
US 9738036B2 · Littlefield · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9873229B2 · Chun et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 9908295B2 · Ou et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 9987801B2 · Littlefield · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10010433B2 · Layman et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10089662B2 · Norman · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10241498B1 · Beard et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10357383B2 · Tompkins · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10463525B2 · Littlefield et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10517746B2 · Bernhardt et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10528032B2 · Schouwenburg et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10561521B2 · Littlefield et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10603203B2 · Littlefield et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10624767B2 · Jonsson et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10639173B2 · Walter · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10682846B2 · Littlefield et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10695211B2 · Mottram et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10703084B2 · Littlefield et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10710356B2 · Littlefield et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10726617B2 · Littlefield et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10766246B2 · Nauka et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10846925B2 · Littlefield et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10905568B2 · Erenstone · 2021 [cited by examiner]
US 11086148B2 · Chumbley et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US D943753S · Grygar · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20040068337A1 · Watson · 2004 [cited by examiner]
US 20040260402A1 · Baldini et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 20050038522A1 · Helenberger et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20060094951A1 · Dean · 2006 [cited by examiner]
US 20070055383A1 · King · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070081717A1 · Littlefield · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070213839A1 · Nachbar · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070225824A1 · Einarsson · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070265727A1 · Bae · 2007 [cited by examiner]
US 20090132056A1 · Kania · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20130046394A1 · Lipschutz et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130274896A1 · Wang et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20140379097A1 · Hurley et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20150018974A1 · Dillingham · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150142150A1 · Layman · 2015 [cited by examiner]
US 20150250715A1 · Adams et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150265434A1 · Hurley et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20160074182A1 · Celebi et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20160287425A1 · Gilmer et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20170318900A1 · Charlesworth et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20180281312A1 · Littlefield et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180353308A1 · Tompkins · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20190015238A1 · Mottram et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20200188141A1 · Muller · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20210024775A1 · Rolland et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20210137708A1 · Orrason et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20210275326A1 · Dechev et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20210322200A1 · Goodnough · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20210401596A1 · Hunter et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20220175571A1 · Goodnough · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20220183861A1 · Flores et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20220211522A1 · Polta et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20230149201A1 · Smith et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
BR 112018004850B1 · 2023 [cited by applicant]
CA 2664803A1 · 2008 [cited by applicant]
CA 3171895A1 · 2019 [cited by applicant]
CN 102209965B · 2011 [cited by applicant]
CN 106537410A · 2017 [cited by applicant]
CZ 2022189A3 · 2023 [cited by applicant]
DE 102010019843A1 · 2011 [cited by applicant]
DE 102018133486A1 · 2020 [cited by applicant]
EP 2735290A1 · 2014 [cited by applicant]
EP 3815650A1 · 2021 [cited by applicant]
GB 2103490A · 1984 [cited by applicant]
JP 2023094208A · 2023 [cited by applicant]
KR 101675400B1 · 2016 [cited by applicant]
KR 20180127120A · 2018 [cited by applicant]
WO WO9404102A1 · 1994 [cited by applicant]
WO WO9840038A1 · 1998 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2013142343A1 · 2013 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2014113581A1 · 2014 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2015073793A1 · 2015 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2017042550A1 · 2017 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2017151577A1 · 2017 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2018115874A1 · 2018 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2019178686A1 · 2019 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2020069817A1 · 2020 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2022091453A1 · 2022 [cited by applicant]
Fairley, Miki. “3D Printing Gains Momentum in Clinical O&P.” The O&P EDGE Magazine, Jan. 3, 2022, opedge.com/3d-printing-gains-momentum-in-clinical-op/. [cited by applicant]
Search Report for International Application No. PCT/US2017/015981, mail date May 11, 2017, 14 pages. [cited by applicant]
Davies, S., “HP 3D printing tech & nTopology Design software enables prosthetic device manufacture in Guatemala.” Oct. 13, 2021, 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing Intelligence. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report and Written Opinion issued on PCT/US2023/032048 dated Mar. 13, 2024. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report and Written Opinion on PCT/US2023/036863 dated Mar. 15, 2024. [cited by applicant]
Rogers, B. “Advanced trans-tibial socket fabrication using selective laser sintering.” Prosthetics and Orthotics International. Mar. 2007, No. 31, pp. 88-100. [cited by applicant]
Extended European Search Report issued on EP23863740.9 dated Nov. 12, 2025. [cited by applicant]