Intelligent prosthetic socket system with active user feedback interface and real time prosthesis diagnostics

1. An apparatus for use with a prosthetic system, the apparatus comprising:

a controller, that operates to gather data and derive prosthetic information from a plurality of sensors, and that transmits said prosthetic information over a wireless radio link, wherein said controller and said plurality of sensors are disposed within a housing that is completely and entirely disposed within an interior cavity of a prosthetic socket that provides also for insertion of a covered residual limb into said interior cavity, said prosthetic socket having a formed reservoir within said interior cavity inside of which said housing is disposed, and wherein said housing presents a first surface for contacting a second surface of said covered residual limb when inserted into said interior cavity;

a pump, wherein the pump is coupled to said controller and wherein the pump is operable to maintain a prescribed negative air pressure within said prosthetic socket, and wherein the pump is disposed within the housing; and

a wireless smart device, coupled to said controller via said wireless radio link, that receives said prosthetic information, and that provides visual and audio representations of said prosthetic information to a user.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein said plurality of sensors comprises:

an accelerometer, that senses relative motion data corresponding to the prosthetic system, and that provides said relative motion data to said controller, wherein said controller derives a portion of said prosthetic information based upon said relative motion data.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein said plurality of sensors comprises:

a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, that senses real time position data corresponding to the prosthetic system, and that provides said real time position data to said controller, wherein said controller derives a portion of said prosthetic information based upon said real time position data.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein said plurality of sensors comprises:

a temperature sensor, that senses temperature data corresponding to the prosthetic system, and that provides said temperature data to said controller, wherein said controller derives a portion of said prosthetic information based upon said temperature data.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein said plurality of sensors comprises:

a barometric pressure sensor, that senses pressure data corresponding to the interior of said prosthetic socket, and that provides said pressure data to said controller, wherein said controller derives a portion of said prosthetic information based upon said temperature data, and wherein said vacuum pump is actuated additionally as a function of said pressure data.

6. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein said wireless radio link comprises a BLUETOOTH radio link, and wherein said smart device comprises a smart cellular telephone.

7. The apparatus as recited in claim 6 , wherein said smart cellular telephone executes an application program that enables said smart cellular telephone to receive and transmit said prosthetic information, to provide said visual and audio representations, and to receive input from said user for transmission to said controller.

8. The apparatus as recited in claim 7 , wherein said visual and audio representations indicate time of wear for the prosthetic system.

9. The apparatus as recited in claim 7 , wherein said visual and audio representations indicate a time to remove the prosthetic system.

10. The apparatus as recited in claim 7 , wherein said visual and audio representations indicate billing data for use of the prosthetic system.

11. The apparatus as recited in claim 7 , wherein said visual and audio representations indicate alerts directing said user to check a residual limb disposed within said prosthetic socket for injuries due to excess pressure.

12. The apparatus as recited in claim 7 , wherein said visual and audio representations indicate distance traveled by said prosthetic system.

13. The apparatus as recited in claim 7 , wherein said visual and audio representations indicate speed of said prosthetic system in a direction traveled by said user.

14. An apparatus for use with a prosthetic system, the apparatus comprising:

a housing, completely and entirely disposed within an interior cavity of a prosthetic socket that provides also for insertion of a covered residual limb into said interior cavity, said prosthetic socket having a formed reservoir within said interior cavity inside of which said housing is disposed, wherein said housing presents a first surface for contacting a second surface of said covered residual limb when inserted into said interior cavity, said housing comprising:

a controller, that operates to gather data and derive prosthetic information from a plurality of sensors, and that transmits said prosthetic information over a wireless radio link; and

a seal, that seals said housing to said interior cavity of said prosthetic socket, and that seals a low pressure side within said prosthetic socket from an ambient environment;

a pump, wherein the pump is coupled to said controller and wherein the pump is operable to maintain a prescribed negative air pressure within said prosthetic socket; and

a wireless smart device, coupled to said controller via said wireless radio link, that receives said prosthetic information, and that provides visual and audio representations of said prosthetic information to a user.

15. The apparatus as recited in claim 14 , wherein said plurality of sensors comprises:

an accelerometer, that senses relative motion data corresponding to the prosthetic system, and that provides said relative motion data to said controller, wherein said controller derives a portion of said prosthetic information based upon said relative motion data.

16. The apparatus as recited in claim 14 , wherein said plurality of sensors comprises:

a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, that senses real time position data corresponding to the prosthetic system, and that provides said real time position data to said controller, wherein said controller derives a portion of said prosthetic information based upon said real time position data.

17. The apparatus as recited in claim 14 , wherein said plurality of sensors comprises:

a temperature sensor, that senses temperature data corresponding to the prosthetic system, and that provides said temperature data to said controller, wherein said controller derives a portion of said prosthetic information based upon said temperature data.

18. The apparatus as recited in claim 14 , wherein said plurality of sensors comprises:

a barometric pressure sensor, that senses pressure data corresponding to the interior of said prosthetic socket, and that provides said pressure data to said controller, wherein said controller derives a portion of said prosthetic information based upon said temperature data, and wherein said vacuum pump is actuated additionally as a function of said pressure data.

19. The apparatus as recited in claim 14 , wherein said wireless radio link comprises a BLUETOOTH radio link, and wherein said smart device comprises a smart cellular telephone.

20. The apparatus as recited in claim 19 , wherein said smart cellular telephone executes an application program that enables said smart cellular telephone to receive and transmit said prosthetic information, to provide said visual and audio representations, and to receive input from said user for transmission to said controller.

21. The apparatus as recited in claim 20 , wherein said visual and audio representations indicate time of wear for the prosthetic system.

22. The apparatus as recited in claim 20 , wherein said visual and audio representations indicate a time to remove the prosthetic system.

23. The apparatus as recited in claim 19 , wherein said visual and audio representations indicate billing data for use of the prosthetic system.

24. The apparatus as recited in claim 20 , wherein said visual and audio representations indicate alerts directing said user to check a residual limb disposed within said prosthetic socket for injuries due to excess pressure.

25. The apparatus as recited in claim 20 , wherein said visual and audio representations indicate distance traveled by said prosthetic system.

26. The apparatus as recited in claim 20 , wherein said visual and audio representations indicate speed of said prosthetic system in a direction traveled by said user.

27. An apparatus for use with a prosthetic system, the apparatus comprising:

a prosthetic socket, that provides a conforming interior receptacle for a covered residual limb of a user, said interior receptacle comprising a formed reservoir within said interior receptacle;

a housing, completely and entirely disposed in said formed reservoir of said interior receptacle, wherein said housing presents a first surface for contacting a second surface of said covered residual limb when inserted into said interior receptacle, said housing comprising:

a controller, that operates to gather data and derive prosthetic information from a plurality of sensors, and that transmits said prosthetic information over a wireless radio link, wherein said controller and said plurality of sensors are disposed within said housing; and

a seal, that seals said housing to said interior receptacle, and that that seals said interior receptacle from an ambient environment;

a pump, wherein the pump is coupled to said controller and wherein the pump is operable to maintain a prescribed negative air pressure within said prosthetic socket;

a wireless smart device, coupled to said controller via said wireless radio link, that receives said prosthetic information, and that provides visual and audio representations of said prosthetic information to said user.

28. The apparatus as recited in claim 27 , wherein said plurality of sensors comprises:

an accelerometer, that senses relative motion data corresponding to the prosthetic system, and that provides said relative motion data to said controller, wherein said controller derives a portion of said prosthetic information based upon said relative motion data.

29. The apparatus as recited in claim 27 , wherein said plurality of sensors comprises:

a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, that senses real time position data corresponding to the prosthetic system, and that provides said real time position data to said controller, wherein said controller derives a portion of said prosthetic information based upon said real time position data.

30. The apparatus as recited in claim 27 , wherein said plurality of sensors comprises:

a temperature sensor, that senses temperature data corresponding to the prosthetic system, and that provides said temperature data to said controller, wherein said controller derives a portion of said prosthetic information based upon said temperature data.

31. The apparatus as recited in claim 27 , wherein said plurality of sensors comprises:

a barometric pressure sensor, that senses pressure data corresponding to the interior of said prosthetic socket, and that provides said pressure data to said controller, wherein said controller derives a portion of said prosthetic information based upon said temperature data, and wherein said vacuum pump is actuated additionally as a function of said pressure data.

32. The apparatus as recited in claim 27 , wherein said wireless radio link comprises a BLUETOOTH radio link, and wherein said smart device comprises a smart cellular telephone.

33. The apparatus as recited in claim 32 , wherein said smart cellular telephone executes an application program that enables said smart cellular telephone to receive and transmit said prosthetic information, to provide said visual and audio representations, and to receive input from said user for transmission to said controller.

34. The apparatus as recited in claim 33 , wherein said visual and audio representations indicate time of wear for the prosthetic system.

35. The apparatus as recited in claim 33 , wherein said visual and audio representations indicate a time to remove the prosthetic system.

36. The apparatus as recited in claim 33 , wherein said visual and audio representations indicate billing data for use of the prosthetic system.

37. The apparatus as recited in claim 33 , wherein said visual and audio representations indicate alerts directing said user to check a residual limb disposed within said prosthetic socket for injuries due to excess pressure.

38. The apparatus as recited in claim 33 , wherein said visual and audio representations indicate distance traveled by said prosthetic system.

39. The apparatus as recited in claim 33 , wherein said visual and audio representations indicate speed of said prosthetic system in a direction traveled by said user.

40. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein the pump is a vacuum pump that is dynamically actuated by said controller.

41. The apparatus as recited in claim 14 , wherein the pump is a vacuum pump that is dynamically actuated by said controller.

42. The apparatus as recited in claim 27 , wherein the pump is a vacuum pump wherein said vacuum pump is dynamically actuated by said controller.