JPH08131466A - Shaft pad - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an improved shaft pad by enabling air to enter an air chamber through the tube extending at least to the upper periphery of a silicon shaft by an air pump located outside the shaft of a prosthesis. SOLUTION: This shaft pad is adapted to be a protective cover for a stump. The protective cover is formed as a flexible silicon shaft 2 rotatable around the surface of the stump 4 of a user wearing the prosthesis, with most of the length of the silicon shaft 2 gastightly contacting the skin surroundingly. An air chamber 5 into which air can enter is formed in the area surrounding the entire end portion 4a of the stump 4. Air can enter the air chamber 5 through a tube 6 extending at least to the upper periphery 1a of the silicon shaft 2 by an air pump 7 located outside the shaft 1 of a prosthesis. The silicon shaft 2 has Shore A hardness of 8-12.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a shaft pad in the form of a stump protective cover.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A stump provided with a shaft pad is inserted from above into a hollow space in which an upper portion of a shaft for a prosthesis is opened. The problem underlying the present invention arose from changes in stump volume. This change again results from the dynamic liquid volume in the body of the prosthesis wearer and may change from day to day. For this reason, it is not necessary to fit the hollow shaft of the prosthesis shaft, more specifically, the outer space of the stump. Rather, it is better, especially in the region of the end of the stump, to leave a hollow space that allows the stump to stretch. But by this,
A prosthesis wearer may lose his or her prosthesis when the variation in stump atrophy or variation in volume causes the prosthesis shaft to appear too large. Poorness is associated with reinforced pumping. Walking becomes painful and often accompanied by unpleasant noise and pain.

This problem, although insufficient in the prior art, should be covered along the surface of the stump to compensate for the free space between the stump and the shaft wall. Socks have solved it. These socks are usually made of wool or cotton and are used repeatedly. But,
This has the disadvantage that the air between the shaft wall and the stump is trapped in the fabric of the sock, so that the desired holding force between the prosthetic shaft and the stump is lost. In addition, the layers of socks make the shaft contour unclear or clumsy, resulting in poor fit and poor prosthesis operation.
This type of sock is wrapped over the surface of the entire stump, increasing the overall surface area of the stump, which may result in increased pressure in undesired areas. Generally speaking,
It has been found that wearing such socks eliminates certain problems but instead causes other problems.

In addition, silicone shafts that roll over the stump of the wearer of the prosthesis are also known, the silicone shaft being provided with a pin at its end, which pin has to be retained on the shaft for the prosthesis by an adapter. is there.

In another proposal for a solution, an air pad is usually inserted on the dorsal side between the stump pad and the shaft for the prosthesis, which mainly pressurizes the gastrocnemius muscle. The volume compensated by this air pad is changed by admitting air. The proposal for this solution also has a drawback in that the air pad cannot three-dimensionally surround the end portion of the stump. After assembly, this air pad forms the lower part of the prosthesis and is no longer easily removable. Furthermore, the aforementioned drawbacks caused by socks cannot be eliminated even with an integrated air pad, since it is usually necessary to cover the socks along the surface of the stump. Further, the bulge is formed by the air pad, which is a drawback for the fit and blood circulation.

The object of the present invention is to develop an improved shaft pad.

[0007]

According to the present invention, according to the present invention, a protective cover is formed as a soft silicone shaft which can roll along the surface of the stump of a wearer of an artificial prosthesis. , Is formed as an inflatable air chamber in a region that is in airless contact with the skin over most of its length and entirely surrounds the distal end of the stump, The air chamber is solved by being inflatable by an air pump external to the prosthetic shaft via a tube extending at least to the upper edge of the silicone shaft.

The solution is to be able to control the compensation of the volume between the stump and the shaft wall. This volume compensation allows the prosthesis wearer to hold the prosthesis in their muscles. In this case, it should be noted that the holding force at the stump of the prosthesis shaft is
It is caused by the action of convolving the condyle (shape engagement) and, on the other hand, by the strain of the muscle. State-of-the-art prosthesis construction produces shaft profiles with total contact and therefore also final load, whenever possible. The force acting on the stump is considerable. The widespread distribution of these forces achieved by the solution of the present invention not only enhances comfort, but also enhances the activity of the prosthetic wearer. Hydrostatics are favorably influenced by the adaptable air chamber of the present invention because the stumps in the total contact shaft form a hydrostatic system. The pressure generated by injecting air into the air chamber is distributed to the soft portion, and the soft portion is further moved around the bone to enhance the pad effect (Polster wirkung) of the soft portion.
The contact between the stump and the prosthesis is optimal. This contact enhances coordination or manipulation of the prosthesis and reduces trauma.

Since the protective cover of the invention can be worn instead of two thick socks, all the drawbacks inherent in socks can be prevented. In this case, it is expedient for the protective cover to be a soft silicone shaft. Silicone reduces friction, absorbs impacts and pressures and is very skin-friendly. Therefore, the cover of the present invention can be worn directly on the skin. The protective cover of the present invention is also very hygienic, since silicone is easy to clean and care for. This protective cover can be used for both sensitive (lower leg) stumps, for poor skin elevation (eg burns) stumps, and for bone stumps (as a complement to subcutaneous tissue), with large volume fluctuations. Suitable for stumps as well as stumps with blood circulation problems.

Contrary to the known silicone shafts mentioned at the outset, artificial prostheses do not require special equipment. A protective cover made of silicone takes place in the shaft of the prosthesis, where the retention (suspension) is made partly by frictional engagement and partly by form-fitting.

The air chamber of the present invention, as an integral component of the protective cover, fits the distal end of the stump in a very wide area and fits any stump shape. The softening of the silicone on the soft skin does not cause keratinization of the skin. Shear forces are well absorbed by silicone.

The frictional engagement solution of the present invention is adapted to various prosthesis types and can be used in any small prosthesis system. In order to prevent the protective cover and thus also the stump from being pushed out of the shaft by inflating the air chamber, in the region of the end of the stump of the prosthesis shaft, over the height or length of the air chamber. It is expedient to have a sufficient extension space free, and in this region it is expedient to at least partially form a hollow space for the prosthesis in a substantially cylindrical shape. The volume difference between the stump and the prosthesis shaft is completely closed by the air chamber. Total contact, final load and thus also near-ideal hydrostatic pressure is achieved inside the stump.

Various silicone protective covers form the system as a module. The patient's stump is measured by different modules depending on the size and a protective cover suitable for the size is selected from the silicone protective cover system.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The protective cover 2 for stump shown in FIG. 1 is formed as a silicone shaft, the lower region of which has an air chamber 5 capable of being inflated, which air chamber 5 is integrated into the silicone shaft 2 and Air can be introduced by an air pump 7 through a tube 6 extending from the upper edge of the silicone shaft 2.

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a shaft 1 for an artificial prosthesis. The shaft 1 for an artificial prosthesis surrounds a hollow space 3 surrounded by the wall of the artificial prosthesis on the outer cover side and at the lower end. An insertion opening corresponding to the stump 4 is formed only at the upper end of the hollow space 3 into which the stump 4 is inserted.

As shown in FIG. 1, a silicone shaft 2 made of soft, flexible silicone is rolled along the surface of the stump 4. In FIG. 1, the air chamber 5 shown in the inflated state is entirely the end portion 4 of the stump 4.
Surrounding a. Tube 6 is silicone shaft 2
It extends to the upper edge 1a and can be inflated by an air pump 7 outside the shaft 1 for prosthesis.

As shown in FIG. 2, the inner wall of the air chamber 5 filled with air is in direct contact with the stump of the wearer of the prosthesis, while the outer wall of the air chamber 5 is the hollow space 3 Contact the inner wall of the. With the air inflated, the air chamber 5 has a stump 4
The hollow space between the end portion 4a and the inner wall 8 of the hollow space 3 adjacent to the end portion 4a is closed. In this case, the inner wall 8 of the hollow space 3 is in the region of the terminal end portion 4 a of the stump 4, and the air chamber 5
Over the height or length l of the free space enclosed by the inflated air chamber 5,
It is formed in at least a substantially cylindrical shape.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view of a protective cover of the present invention in the form of a silicone shaft.

2 is a view of the silicone shaft shown in FIG. 1 in a body-fitting prosthesis.

[Explanation of symbols]

1a ... upper edge, 2 ... silicone shaft, 4 ... stump, 4a
... end part, 5 ... air chamber, 6 ... tube, 7 ... air pump.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A shaft pad in the form of a stump protective cover, said protective cover being a soft silicone shaft (2) rollable along the surface of the stump (4) of the prosthesis wearer. The silicone shaft (2) is formed in airless contact with the silicone shaft (2) so as to surround the skin over most of its length, and the end (4a) of the stump (4) is entirely covered. Is formed as an air chamber (5) capable of injecting air in a region surrounded by, and the air chamber (5) is
At least the upper edge (1) of the silicone shaft (2)
A shaft pad, which can be inflated by an air pump (7) outside the shaft (1) for a prosthetic device via a tube (6) extending to a). 2. The shaft pad according to claim 1, wherein the silicone shaft (2) has a material hardness of Shore hardness A8-12.