Vibratory devices for phantom limb pain

1. A prosthetic device, comprising:

a flexible interface fabricated from a flexible, elastomeric polymeric material and configured to conform to a residual limb of a user,

a prosthetic socket comprising an outer shell more rigid than the flexible interface and positioned external to at least a portion of the flexible interface, and

one or more vibrators embedded within the flexible interface to impart vibration to the residual limb, the one or more vibrators comprising one or more vibrational pads wirelessly coupled to an energy source exterior to the flexible interface.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising electronic circuitry, the electronic circuitry comprising a control system comprising a processor system and a memory system in communicative connection with the processor system.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the electronic circuitry is configured to communicate with a personal communication device including a control algorithm stored therein to control operation of the one or more vibrators.

4. The device of claim 2 further comprising one or more sensors in operative connection with the electronic circuitry to measure at least one of a parameter of the user, an environmental parameter, or an operational parameter of the one or more vibrators.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the one or more vibrators have a profile no greater than the thickness of the flexible interface.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the one or more vibrators have a profile no greater than approximately 6 mm.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the one or more vibrators comprise one or more vibrational motors.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the flexible, elastomeric polymeric material comprises a silicone or a polyurethane.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein the flexible, elastomeric polymeric material is a silicone.

10. A method of providing vibrational therapy to a user, comprising:

placing a flexible interface fabricated from a flexible, elastomeric polymeric material and configured to conform to a residual limb of the user in operative connection with the user's residual limb, the flexible interface having one or more vibrators embedded within the flexible interface to impart vibrational energy to the residual limb;

providing a prosthetic socket comprising an outer shell more rigid than the flexible interface and positioned external to at least a portion of the flexible interface, and

imparting vibration to the residual limb via the one or more vibrators, the one or more vibrators comprising one or more vibrational pads wirelessly coupled to an energy source outside of the flexible interface.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the flexible interface is fabricated from a flexible, elastomeric polymeric material.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising providing electronic circuitry in operative connection with the one or more vibrators to control operation thereof.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the electronic circuitry is configured to communicate with a personal communication device including a control algorithm stored therein to control operation of the one or more vibrators.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising providing one or more sensors in operative connection with the electronic circuitry to measure at least one of a parameter of the user, an environmental parameter, or an operational parameter of the one or more vibrators.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein the one or more vibrators have a profile no greater than the thickness of the flexible interface.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein the one or more vibrators have a profile no greater than approximately 6 mm.

17. The method of claim 10 wherein the one or more vibrators comprise one or more vibrational motors.

18. The method of claim 10 wherein the flexible interface is fabricated from silicone.

19. A flexible interface for use with a prosthetic device, comprising:

one or more vibrators embedded within the flexible interface to impart vibration to a residual limb of a user, the flexible interface being formed from a flexible, elastomeric polymeric material and having a conformation to conform to the residual limb and to an internal wall of a shell of a prosthetic socket of the prosthetic device which is more rigid than the flexible interface and positioned external to at least a portion of the flexible interface, wherein the one or more vibrators are molded within the flexible, elastomeric polymeric material.

20. The flexible interface of claim 19 wherein the flexible interface is fabricated from a flexible, elastomeric polymeric material.