Pro-Active Dynamic Accommodating Socket

With the continued improvements in body armor, and the disturbing increase in explosive offensives in modern combat, more of our wounded soldiers are surviving their injuries and there has been a considerable increase in the military amputee population. Modern prosthetics have improved significantly with regards to control and functionality, but the fit of the residual limb within a prosthetic socket is a primary concern for many amputees. A poor fit can lead to skin irritation, tissue breakdown, and pain. The volume of an amputee’s residual limb changes throughout the course of a day and/or throughout the year. Volume fluctuation within the socket can lead to issues for the amputee, including decreased comfort, increased shear forces, increased pressure on bony prominences, as well as a poor gait pattern. An uncomfortable or non-performing socket/residual limb interface decreases user compliance with the prosthetic and therefore decreases the activity level of amputees who want to remain active in their civilian and military lives. The Infoscitex team proposes a multilayered socket that takes advantage of a novel braided material for strength and allows for adjustable conformability throughout the course of the day, with cooling patches dedicated to improving wearer comfort by managing moisture. This new socket provides ultimate fit for improvement in the performance of the prosthesis. The socket adapts itself to the changing physical shape of the residual limb as the prosthesis is worn during ambulation, and passively conforms to volume fluctuations throughout the day. The materials are lightweight, breathable, and allow the prosthetic to function in a variety of environments.