Suspension liner system with seal

Abstract

A suspension liner has a liner body portion, a textile material, and a plurality of seals formed along a length of the suspension liner toward a closed distal end and protruding circumferentially about a liner profile. Each seal has a same shape including a peak having a rounded profile and a width narrowing toward the peak and defines a sealing surface arranged to form a secure interface with an interior wall of the socket that retains the suspension liner within the prosthetic socket. The textile material is located intermediate interior and exterior surfaces of the suspension liner that formed of one or more silicone materials in the area of the seals and the textile material defines the exterior surface of the suspension liner proximal and distal to the seals.

1 . A suspension liner adapted to provide an interface between a residual limb and a prosthetic socket, the suspension liner defining an interior surface and an exterior surface forming a liner profile between a closed distal end and an open proximal end, the suspension liner comprising:
 a liner body portion formed from an elastomeric material, the liner body portion defining an axis;   at least one seal protruding circumferentially about and radially outwardly a distance from the liner profile defined at areas outside the at least one seal, the at least one seal formed in one piece with the elastomeric material of the liner body portion, the at least one seal having a radially bendable peak at least in part defining a sealing surface arranged to deflect toward the liner profile and take up a higher pressure when donned on a residual limb and engaged with an interior wall of a prosthetic socket, and the at least one seal having a distal portion distal the peak extending radially less than the peak and more than the liner profile relative to the axis of the liner body portion, the distal portion arranged to engage the interior wall of a prosthetic socket as the radially bendable peak engages the interior wall of the prosthetic socket;   wherein the at least one seal comprises a plurality of seals arranged along a segment of a length of the suspension liner, each of the seals of the plurality of seals has a same profile relative to one another;   wherein the peak of the at least one seal defines a proximal end to the at least one seal.   
     
     
         2 . The suspension liner of  claim 1 , wherein a reinforcement material is embedded into a thickness of the elastomeric material of the liner body portion, the reinforcement material being generally axially stiff and radially compliant, the reinforcement material being different from the elastomeric material. 
     
     
         3 . The suspension liner of  claim 2 , wherein the reinforcement material is provided in the liner body portion in a vicinity of the at least one seal and extends proximally relative thereto. 
     
     
         4 . The suspension liner of  claim 2 , wherein the reinforcement material extends to the distal end of the suspension liner and up to the proximal end of the suspension liner. 
     
     
         5 . The suspension liner of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement material is a textile. 
     
     
         6 . The suspension liner of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing surface is arranged such that a form of the at least one seal increases sealing forces with the higher pressure existing at the radially bendable peak and along an upper portion of the at least one seal. 
     
     
         7 . The suspension liner of  claim 4 , wherein a thickness of the suspension liner is the same proximal to and distal of the at least one seal. 
     
     
         8 . A prosthesis system, comprising:
 a hard socket adapted to a shape of a residual limb;   a suspension liner adapted to provide an interface between a residual limb and a prosthetic socket, the suspension liner defining an interior surface and an exterior surface forming a liner profile between a closed distal end and an open proximal end, the suspension liner including a liner body portion formed from an elastomeric material and defines an axis;   at least one seal protruding circumferentially about and radially outwardly a distance from the liner profile defined at areas outside the at least one seal, the at least one seal formed in one piece with the elastomeric material of the liner body portion, the at least one seal a radially bendable peak at least in part defining a sealing surface arranged to deflect toward the liner profile and take up a higher pressure when donned on a residual limb and engaged with an interior wall of the hard socket, wherein the interior wall of the hard socket has a continuous surface without a stepped portion in a region proximate to the at least one seal, the at least one seal having a distal portion distal the peak extending radially less than the peak and more than the liner profile relative to the axis of the liner body portion; and   at least one valve arranged to isolate the interior of a distal end of the socket from atmosphere and located below the at least one seal when the suspension liner is inserted into the socket;   wherein the at least one seal comprises a plurality of seals arranged along a segment of a length of the suspension liner, each of the seals of the plurality of seals has a same profile relative to one another;   wherein the peak of the at least one seal defines a proximal end to the at least one seal.   
     
     
         9 . The prosthesis system of  claim 8 , wherein a reinforcement material is embedded into a thickness of the elastomeric material of the liner body portion, the reinforcement material being generally axially stiff and radially compliant, the reinforcement material being different from the elastomeric material. 
     
     
         10 . The prosthesis system of  claim 9 , wherein the reinforcement material is provided in the liner body portion in a vicinity of the at least one seal and extends proximally relative thereto. 
     
     
         11 . The prosthesis system of  claim 9 , wherein the reinforcement material extends to the distal end of the suspension liner and up to the proximal end of the suspension liner. 
     
     
         12 . The prosthesis system of  claim 9 , wherein the reinforcement material is a textile. 
     
     
         13 . The prosthesis system of  claim 8 , wherein the sealing surface is arranged such that a form of the at least one seal increases sealing forces with the higher pressure existing at the radially bendable peak and along an upper portion of the at least one seal. 
     
     
         14 . The prosthesis system of  claim 8 , wherein a thickness of the suspension liner is the same proximal to and distal of the at least one seal. 
     
     
         15 . A suspension liner adapted to provide an interface between a residual limb and a prosthetic socket, the suspension liner defining an interior surface and an exterior surface forming a liner profile between a closed distal end and an open proximal end, the suspension liner comprising:
 a liner body portion formed from an elastomeric material, the liner body portion defining an axis;   a reinforcement material embedded into a thickness of the elastomeric material of the liner body portion, the reinforcement material being generally axially stiff and radially compliant, the elastomeric material located on opposed sides of the reinforcement material and formed from a textile;   at least one seal protruding circumferentially about and radially outwardly a distance from the liner profile defined at areas outside the at least one seal, the at least one seal formed in one piece with the elastomeric material of the liner body portion, the at least one seal having a radially bendable peak at least in part defining a sealing surface arranged to deflect toward the liner profile and take up a higher pressure when donned on a residual limb and engaged with an interior wall of a prosthetic socket, and the at least one seal having a distal portion distal the peak extending radially less than the peak and more than the liner profile relative to the axis of the liner body portion, the distal portion arranged to engage the interior wall of a prosthetic socket as the radially bendable peak engages the interior wall of the prosthetic socket;   wherein the reinforcement material is provided in the liner body portion in a vicinity of the at least one seal and extends proximally relative thereto;   wherein the at least one seal comprises a plurality of seals arranged along a segment of a length of the suspension liner;   wherein the reinforcement material extends to the distal end of the suspension liner and up to the proximal end of the suspension liner;   wherein the at least one seal comprises a plurality of seals arranged along a segment of a length of the suspension liner, each of the seals of the plurality of seals has a same profile relative to one another.   
     
     
         16 . The suspension liner of  claim 15 , wherein the reinforcement material is a textile. 
     
     
         17 . The suspension liner of  claim 15 , wherein the sealing surface is arranged such that a form of the at least one seal increases sealing forces with the higher pressure existing at the radially bendable peak and along an upper portion of the at least one seal. 
     
     
         18 . The suspension liner of  claim 15 , wherein a thickness of the suspension liner is the same proximal to and distal of the at least one seal. 
     
     
         19 . The suspension liner of  claim 15 , wherein the peak of the at least one seal defines a proximal end to the at least one seal. 
     
     
         20 . The suspension liner of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one seal comprises a plurality of seals arranged along a segment of a length of the suspension liner, each of the seals of the plurality of seals has a same profile relative to one another.