Amputation residuum device and method of using the same

Abstract

An apparatus and method for post amputation residuum maintenance and for preserving motion of the knee are provided. The apparatus includes an elongated shell having a longitudinal axis and defining a hollow interior closed at a distal end, the shell having an opening extending from a proximal end and adapted to receive a residuum into the interior of the shell, and a longitudinal slit having a circular aperture at each end.

1 . An apparatus for post amputation maintenance of a residuum having a posterior portion, the apparatus comprising:
 an elongated shell having a longitudinal axis extending from a proximal end to a distal end and defining a hollow interior closed at the distal end, the shell having an opening into the interior extending from the proximal end and adapted to receive the posterior portion of the residuum into the interior of the shell, and the shell having a longitudinal slit having a circular aperture at each end and extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the shell has a second slit extending substantially parallel to at least a portion of the longitudinal slit. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a distal end of the longitudinal slit is defined by the closed distal end of the shell. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the shell has a second slit having a distal end defined by the closed distal end of the shell. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the distal end of the longitudinal slit is positioned from about 0.5 inches to about 3 inches from the distal end of the second slit. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a second shell adapted to be positioned adjacent to the residuum, the second shell configured to cover at least a portion of the opening of the shell. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the second shell has a longitudinal axis, and the second shell is substantially arcuate in a cross-section taken transverse to the longitudinal axis of the second shell. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 ,
 wherein the second shell comprises:   an inner foam layer comprising a soft material; and   an outer foam layer comprising a rigid material, wherein the outer layer is positioned adjacent to the inner foam layer.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the peripheral edge of the inner foam layer tapers outwardly. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the peripheral edge of the outer foam layer tapers inwardly. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the shell comprises a proximal portion including the proximal end of the shell, and a distal portion including the distal end of the shell, wherein a first width of the opening defined by the distal portion is greater than a second width of the opening defined by the proximal portion such that the width of the opening tapers inwardly from the proximal end of the shell to the distal end of the shell. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the shell has a circumference, and the opening is about 40% of the circumference of the shell. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one enclosure panel; and   a means for securing the at least one enclosure panel to the shell.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a circular pad disposed in the interior of the shell adjacent to the closed distal end of the shell. 
     
     
         15 . A method for maintaining a post amputation residuum including a posterior portion, the method comprising:
 providing an elongated shell having a longitudinal axis extending from a proximal end of the shell to a distal end of the shell and defining a hollow interior closed at the distal end, the shell having an opening into the interior extending from the proximal end and adapted to receive the residuum into the interior of the shell, and the shell having a longitudinal slit having a circular aperture at each end and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis; and   positioning the posterior portion of the residuum in the interior of the shell via the opening.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the step of providing a second shell adapted to be positioned adjacent to the residuum, the second shell configured to cover at least a portion of the opening. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the step of positioning the second shell over at least a portion of the residuum exposed through the opening in the shell. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the step of:
 adjusting the position of the second shell to fit against the residuum, wherein at least a portion of an edge of the first shell defining the opening partially overlaps the second shell.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the step of:
 trimming a portion of the second shell to accommodate the residuum exposed through the opening in the shell.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the shell has a second slit extending parallel to at least a portion of the longitudinal slit. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein a distal end of the longitudinal slit is defined by the closed distal end of the shell and wherein a distal end of the second slit is defined by the closed distal end of the shell. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the steps of:
 providing an enclosure panel;   positioning the enclosure panel over at least a portion of the residuum exposed through the opening in the shell; and   securing the enclosure panel to the shell.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the step of:
 modifying the dimensions of the shell to accommodate the residuum by trimming a portion of the shell.