Plate/socket attachment for artificial limb vacuum pump

1. In an artificial limb for amputees who have a residual limb, the artificial limb having a pylon, a socket attached to the pylon, a flexible liner having a cavity with a volume less than that of the residual limb, the socket having a volume and shape to receive a substantial portion of the residual limb and the liner, the socket having a cavity between the liner and the socket adapted to receive the residual limb and the liner, a vacuum source connectable to the socket cavity, and a seal means for sealing the socket cavity; a valveless plate/socket attachment for connecting the vacuum source to the socket cavity, the plate/socket attachment comprising:

a) a plate attached to the pylon and to the socket, the plate having a first surface and a second surface;

b) a vacuum passage through the plate between the first surface and the second surface; and

c) a vacuum outlet in the second surface for attachment of the vacuum source;

d) the artificial limb having an inner socket disposed between the residual limb and the socket, the socket cavity being between the liner and the inner socket, a mechanical interlock connected between the plate/socket attachment and the inner socket and, connected to the vacuum passage, a seal between the mechanical interlock and the vacuum passage; the mechanical interlock having a second vacuum passage therethrough, the mechanical interlock engaging the seal thereby providing an air-tight connection between the vacuum passage and the second vacuum passage.

2. The plate/socket attachment of claim 1 , wherein a vacuum of at least ten inches of mercury below ambient is maintained in the cavity.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the seal means further comprises a nonfoamed, nonporous polyurethane suspension sleeve for rolling over and covering the socket and a portion of the residual limb.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the liner is of a nonfoamed, nonporous polyurethane.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the seal means further comprises an annular seal between the liner and the socket.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the vacuum source is a vacuum pump and a regulator to maintain vacuum in the cavity, and further comprising a power source for the vacuum pump and the regulator.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a vacuum reservoir having a volume substantially larger than the cavity.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the vacuum source further comprises a weight-actuated vacuum pump.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a thin sheath between the liner and the socket, to assist the even distribution of vacuum in the cavity about the liner.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a retention member for releasably locking the mechanical interlock.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , the retention member being within the plate/socket attachment biased against the mechanical interlock at an acute angle to a longitudinal axis of the mechanical interlock, and further comprising a retention member spring biasing the retention member, and a release member engaging the retention member and moving the retention member to a position substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the mechanical interlock.

12. The plate/socket attachment of claim 1 , the mechanical interlock being in the first surface and removably connecting the plate/socket attachment to the inner socket, and the second vacuum passage being connected to the socket cavity.

13. The plate/socket attachment of claim 12 , wherein the mechanical interlock comprises a shuttle pin attached to the inner socket and removably connectable to a shuttle pin receiver in the first surface.

14. The plate/socket attachment of claim 1 , wherein the seal comprises an O-ring.

15. In an artificial limb for amputees who have a residual limb, the artificial limb having a pylon, a socket attached to the pylon, a flexible liner having a cavity with a volume less than that of the residual limb, the socket having a volume and shape to receive a substantial portion of the residual limb and the liner, the socket having a cavity between the liner and the socket adapted to receive the residual limb and the liner, a vacuum source connectable to the socket cavity, and a seal means for sealing the socket cavity: a valveless plate/socket attachment for connecting the vacuum source to the socket cavity, the plate/socket attachment comprising:

a) a plate attached to the pylon and to the socket, the plate having a first surface and a second surface;

b) a vacuum passage through the plate between the first surface and the second surface;

c) a vacuum outlet in the second surface for attachment of the vacuum source;

d) the artificial limb having an inner socket disposed between the residual limb and the socket, the socket cavity being between the liner and the inner socket, and further comprising a shuttle pin receiver in the first surface, the shuttle pin receiver being connected to the vacuum passage, and an O-ring between the shuttle pin receiver and the vacuum passage; and a shuttle pin attached to the inner socket and removably connectable to the shuttle pin receiver to connect the inner socket to the plate/socket attachment, the shuttle pin having a second vacuum passage therethrough, the second vacuum passage being connected to the socket cavity, the shuttle pin engaging the O-ring thereby providing an air-tight connection between the vacuum passage and the second vacuum passage.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , further comprising: a retention member within the shuttle pin receiver biased against the shuttle pin at an acute angle to a longitudinal axis of the shuttle pin, a retention member spring biasing the retention member, a release member engaging the retention member and moving the retention member to a position substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shuttle pin, and a release member spring biasing the release member.