Covering shell for a prosthesis and limb prosthesis
A covering shell for a prosthesis of a given limb, the shell having at least two zones of different flexibility. The arrangement of the zones of the covering shell in relation to one another corresponding to the arrangement of the parts of the given limb having different hardnesses. An exoskeletal structure, having preferably a tubular shape, of a prosthesis of a given limb. The exoskeletal structure being designed to provide a connection between a socket and a hand prosthesis or between a socket and a foot prosthesis, in order to form the prosthesis of the limb. The exoskeletal structure having at least two zones of different flexibility. The arrangement of the zones of the exoskeletal structure in relation to one another corresponding to the arrangement of the parts of the given limb having different hardnesses.
1 . A covering shell for a prosthesis of a replaced limb, the covering shell resembling at least parts of the replaced limb and the covering shell comprising at least two zones of different flexibility, an arrangement of said zones in relation to one another coinciding with an arrangement of parts of the replaced limb having different hardnesses, the covering shell resembling through different flexibilities thereof different parts of the replaced limb when touched;
wherein a first zone differs from a second zone in relation to at least one of a thickness, a material and a three-dimensional pattern, in order to obtain a first zone having a different flexibility from a second zone;
the covering shell being adapted for housing a leg prosthesis therein; and
wherein each zone has at least one of the following:
a greater thickness than a mean thickness of the shell, said each zone located on the shell represents a tibia located under a leg's skin, and
a lesser thickness than a mean thickness of the shell, said each zone located on the shell represents a muscle or a tendon located under a leg's skin,
the muscle or the tendon being a soleus, a tibialis anterior, a fibularis longus, an extensor digitorum longus, a gastrocnemius or Achille's tendon.
2 . The shell according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the following: a first zone has a lesser flexibility than a second zone, the first zone being arranged to coincide with a hard part of the limb, and a second zone has a greater flexibility than a first zone, the second zone being arranged to coincide with a soft part of the limb.
3 . The shell according to claim 2 , wherein the first zone and the second zone have different thicknesses, and the first zone and the second zone are a rib or a recess.
4 . The shell according to claim 1 , wherein the shell has a tubular shape capable of receiving said prosthesis inside the tubular shape.
5 . The shell according to claim 4 , wherein at least one of the following: a flexibility of the shell remains mostly constant along a length of the tubular shape, and the flexibility of the shell mostly changes along a circumference of the tubular shape.
6 . The shell according to claim 1 , wherein an outer surface of the shell is mostly smooth and the changes in thickness are located on an inner surface of the shell.
7 . An assembly of a covering shell for a leg prosthesis and a covering shell for a foot prosthesis, the covering shell being according to claim 1 , the covering shell of the leg prosthesis being integral with the covering shell of the foot prosthesis.
8 . An assembly of a covering shell for a prosthesis according to claim 1 and a covering shell for a prosthetic foot, the covering shell having a tubular shape and comprising at least one lug on a bottom edge of the tubular shape, the lug being capable of interlocking reversibly in the shell of the prosthetic foot, so as attach it removably to the tubular shape.