Vacuum-assisted prosthetic device

1. A prosthetic device for attachment to a residual limb, the prosthetic device comprising:

a leg member including a socket-forming member configured to receive the residual limb;

a foot member connected to the leg member, the foot member having a rotating portion that rotates relative to the leg member during ambulatory motion of the residual limb; and

a pump including a cylinder mounted on the leg member and a piston operatively connected to the rotating portion via an actuator such that rotation of the rotating portion relative to the leg member causes the pump to draw a negative pressure within the socket-forming member.

2. The prosthetic device of claim 1 , wherein the rotating portion rotates relative to the leg member about a fixed pivot member.

3. The prosthetic device of claim 1 , wherein the rotating portion rotates relative to the leg member by flexure of the foot member.

4. The prosthetic device of claim 1 , wherein the actuator is at least one of a cable, a strap, a cord, a wire, a string or a rod.

5. The prosthetic device of claim 1 , wherein the pump further includes a regulator configured to control a maximum negative pressure drawn within the socket-forming member.

6. The prosthetic device of claim 5 , wherein the regulator includes an adjustment mechanism configured to adjust the maximum negative pressure the regulator permits to be drawn within the socket-forming member.

7. The prosthetic device of claim 6 wherein the regulator is configured to permit the pump to maintain maximum negative pressures between 1 and 28 inches of mercury within the socket-forming cavity.

8. The prosthetic device of claim 1 , wherein the pump further includes an exhaust configured to expel fluids drawn from the socket-forming member.