Prosthesis covering

• US 8,828,096 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2009
• Issued: 09/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Touch Bionics Limited (Ossur hf)
• Original Assignee: Touch Emas Limited
• Inventors: Gill, Hugh
• Primary Examiner(s): SNOW, BRUCE EDWARD
• Application Number:
  US13/139,780
• Publication Number:
  US 20120065743A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,726 Days
• Field of Search: 623 57- 65, 215/9, 2167-168, 216/17, 216/18
• US Class Current: 623/57
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0059 Cosmetic or alloplastic implants A61F2/10 - A61F2/16, A61F2/28 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/583 Hands; Wrist joints
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/78 Means for protecting prostheses or for attaching them to the body, e.g. bandages, harnesses, straps, or stockings for the limb stump
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5001 Cosmetic coverings

Abstract

The present invention relates to a covering (10) for a prosthetic hand. The covering (10) comprises a first layer (12) in the form of a glove or mitten configured to cover a prosthetic hand, with the first layer (12) comprising an elastomer. The covering (10) also comprises a second layer (14) disposed over at least part of a surface of the first layer (12), with the second layer being unitary and comprising polyurethane. At least one part of an interior surface of the first layer (12) is uncovered by the second layer (14).

Claims

1. A covering for a prosthetic hand comprising:

a first layer in the form of a glove or mitten configured to cover a prosthetic hand, the first layer comprising an elastomer; and

a second layer disposed over at least part of an interior surface of the first layer, the second layer being unitary and comprising polyurethane, at least a finger portion of the interior surface of the first layer being uncovered by the second layer,

wherein the second layer provides a reduced friction surface between the prosthetic hand and second layer.

2. A covering according to claim 1, wherein a part of the interior surface of the first layer, which, in use of the covering, is adjacent at least one digit of the prosthetic hand is uncovered.

3. A covering according to claim 2, wherein a part of the interior surface of the first layer adjacent at least a distal phalange of the prosthetic hand is uncovered by the second layer.

4. A covering according to claim 1, wherein the first layer is in the form of a glove defining a plurality of sheaths for covering respective individual digits of a prosthetic hand, at least a part of an internal surface of at least one sheath other than a sheath for a thumb of the prosthetic hand is uncovered by the second layer.

5. A covering according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of a palm area of the interior surface of the first layer is uncovered by the second layer.

6. A covering according to claim 1, wherein the second layer is disposed over a part of a surface of the first layer at a plurality of spaced apart locations.

7. A covering according to claim 6, wherein the second layer is unitary at each of the spaced apart locations.

8. A covering according to claim 1, wherein the second layer is disposed on an exterior surface of the first layer solely over at least one of:

the back of the hand;

the wrist adjacent the back of the hand; and

the side of the hand.

9. A covering according to claim 1, wherein the second layer defines an exposed surface facing away from the first layer, the exposed surface having a surface roughness of between substantially 15 and substantially 25 according to the VDI, EDM scale.

10. A covering according to claim 1, wherein the first layer is unitary and the elastomer defines a furthest extent of the first layer.

11. A covering according to claim 1, wherein the elastomer is a thermoplastic elastomer.

12. A covering according to claim 11, wherein the elastomer comprises a high temperature vulcanised (HTV) silicone rubber.

13. A covering according to claim 1, wherein the first layer comprises a textile substrate.

14. A covering according to claim 13, wherein the elastomer of the first layer is attached to the textile substrate.

15. A covering according to claim 14, wherein the elastomer of the first layer is one of:

disposed substantially on an exterior surface of the covering; and

embedded in the elastomer of the first layer.

16. A covering according to claim 13, wherein the textile substrate comprises a spandex material.

17. A covering according to claim 1, wherein the second layer is attached to a surface of the first layer.

18. A covering according to claim 1, wherein the second layer is a film of material on the first layer.

19. A covering according to claim 1, wherein the second layer comprises polyurethane resin, crosslink agent and filler.

20. A covering according to claim 1, wherein the second layer comprises a pigment.

21. A covering according to claim 1, wherein the first layer has a thickness from interior surface to exterior surface of between substantially 0.5 mm and substantially 2 mm.

22. A prosthetic hand comprising a mechanical hand and a covering constructed according to claim 1.