Pump system for prosthesis
A vacuum pump system for a prosthesis includes an enhanced suspension mechanism and incorporates a vacuum pump system, an adaptor assembly, circuitry, and a power source. A virtually air-tight seal between a residual limb and a socket of the prosthesis allows a vacuum fit to be generated by the pump system. The pump system may be controlled with various circuits and processors receiving instructions from a software program. The pump system may be located within a pylon, but yet remain vibrationally and acoustically de-coupled from the pylon.
1. A prosthetic device having a socket assembly, the prosthesis comprising:
a pylon configured to receive a vacuum engine;
an adaptor configured to connect the pylon to the socket assembly, the adaptor having openings to provide fluid communication between the vacuum engine and the socket assembly; and
a manifold coupled to the adaptor and in fluid communication with a cylinder of the vacuum engine.
2. The prosthesis of claim 1 , further comprising a sensor arranged to acquire data for at least one parameter about the prosthetic device, wherein the sensor is selected from a group of sensors consisting of accelerometers, strain gauges, goniometers, gyroscopes, transducers, and thermocouples.
3. The prosthetic device of claim 1 , wherein the adaptor includes a clamp portion for being secured around the pylon.
4. The prosthetic device of claim 1 , wherein the adaptor is coupled to the vacuum engine with at least one vibration isolation device.
5. The prosthetic device of claim 1 , further comprising a controller coupled to the adaptor and configured to monitor pressure in a space between the vacuum engine and the socket assembly.
6. The prosthetic device of claim 5 , wherein the controller is in signal communication with the pump system.
7. The prosthetic device of claim 1 , wherein the pump system is configured to extract residual air from the prosthetic socket.
8. The prosthetic device of claim 1 , wherein the vacuum engine is coupled to the adaptor and located substantially within the pylon as to minimize noise generated by the vacuum engine.
9. The prosthetic device of claim 1 , further comprising at least one vibration isolator for coupling the adaptor to the vacuum engine and providing a space between the pylon and the vacuum engine.
10. The prosthetic device of claim 1 , wherein the vacuum engine includes a large volume displacement pump.
11. The prosthetic device of claim 1 , wherein the vacuum engine includes a filter to minimize fluid transfer from the socket assembly to the vacuum engine.
12. The prosthetic device of claim 1 , wherein the vacuum engine includes a motor and a piston-cylinder type linear actuator.
13. The prosthetic device of claim 12 , wherein a piston of the actuator includes a low friction graphite piston.
14. The prosthetic device of claim 12 , wherein a cylinder of the actuator includes a glass cylinder.