VALVE FOR PROSTHETIC DEVICE

• US 20150265433A1
• Filed: 03/16/2015
• Published: 09/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ossur hf
• Original Assignee: Ossur hf
• Inventors: SANDAHL, David, JONASSON, Hafsteinn
• Granted Patent: US 9,474,636 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/60 Artificial legs or feet or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/80 Sockets, e.g. of suction type
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/805 having an air valve

Abstract

A valve for use with a prosthetic socket includes a body defining a first opening, a second opening adapted to be in fluid communication with the socket cavity, and a passageway formed between the openings. A membrane is flexibly seated on the body over the first opening. The membrane is moveable between a closed position in which the first opening is sealed such that fluid communication between the first opening and the second opening is inhibited, and an open position in which the first opening is unsealed such that fluid can flow through the passageway. The membrane includes a first part connected to a release element that is operable to move the membrane between the open and closed positions, and a free part operable independent of the first part to move the membrane between the open and closed positions.

Claims

1. A valve for a prosthetic socket defining a socket cavity comprising:

a body defining a first opening, a second opening adapted to be in fluid communication with the socket cavity, and a passageway formed between the first opening and the second opening; and

a membrane flexibly seated on said body over said first opening and movable between a closed position in which the first opening is sealed by the membrane such that fluid communication between the first opening and the second opening is inhibited, and an open position in which the first opening is unsealed such that fluid can flow through the passageway;

wherein the membrane includes a first part connected to a release element and operable to move the membrane between the open position and the closed position, and a free part operable independent of the first part to move the membrane between the open position and the closed position.

2. The valve of claim 1, wherein the first part moves the membrane to the open position in response to movement of the release element, and the free part moves the membrane to the open position in response to a buildup of pressure inside of the socket cavity.

3. The valve of claim 1, wherein the release element is movable between a normal position arranged to compress the first part against the body, and a release position arranged to lift the first part away from the body to unseal the first opening.

4. The valve of claim 3, further comprising a housing secured on the body over the membrane, and a resilient member located between the housing and the release element biasing the release element toward the normal position.

5. The valve of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the first part covers at least a portion of the first opening when the free part moves the membrane to the open position.

6. The valve of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the free part covers at least a portion of the first opening when the first part moves the membrane to the open position.

7. The valve of claim 1, wherein the membrane comprises an elastomeric disc.

8. The valve of claim 1, wherein a pressure build up in the socket cavity lifts the free part without unsealing the first part of the membrane away from the first opening.

9. The valve of claim 1, further comprising a housing secured on the body over the membrane, and pivotally connected to the release element.

10. The valve of claim 9, wherein the housing defines an opening arranged to accommodate a portion of the release element.

11. The valve of claim 10, wherein an exterior surface of the housing defines a concave recess thereon.

12. The valve of claim 11, wherein the opening is defined in the concave recess.

13. The valve of claim 12, wherein the release element defines a second concave recess substantially corresponding to the concave recess of the housing.

14. The valve of claim 9, wherein the housing defines an interior cavity and a plurality of through apertures in fluid communication with the interior cavity, the release element substantially situated within the interior cavity.

15. The valve of claim 14, wherein a bottom surface of the release element directs fluid flow through at least one of the through apertures when the release element is in the release position.

16. A valve for a prosthetic socket defining a socket cavity comprising:

a body defining a fluid passageway adapted to be in fluid communication with the socket cavity; and

a membrane flexibly seated on said body, the membrane movable between a closed position in which the fluid passageway is sealed by the membrane, and an open position in which the fluid passageway is unsealed such that fluid can flow between the socket cavity and the passageway;

wherein the membrane includes a first part connected to a release element and operable to move the membrane between the open position and the closed position, and a free part operable independent of the first part to move the membrane between the open position and the closed position.

17. The valve of claim 16, wherein the first part moves the membrane to the open position in response to movement of the release element and the free part moves the membrane to the open position in response to a buildup of pressure in the socket cavity.

18. The valve of claim 16, wherein the release element is movable between a normal position arranged to compress the first part against the body, and a release position arranged to lift the first part away from the body to unseal the first opening.

19. A prosthetic system comprising:

a prosthetic socket defining a socket cavity; and

a valve attached to the prosthetic socket, the valve including;

a body defining a first opening, a second opening adapted to be in fluid communication with the socket cavity, and a passageway formed between the first opening and the second opening; and

a membrane flexibly seated on said body over said first opening and movable between a closed position in which the first opening is sealed by the membrane such that fluid communication between the first opening and the second opening is inhibited, and an open position in which the first opening is unsealed such that air can flow through the passageway,

wherein the membrane includes a first part connected to a release element and operable to move the membrane between the open position and the closed position, and a free part operable independent of the first part to move the membrane between the open position and the closed position.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising a housing secured on the body over the membrane, and pivotally connected to the release element.