Spacer unit for use in a movable joint of a prosthetic or orthopedic system

Abstract

A prosthetic system includes a movable joint defining at least one gap, and at least one spacer unit positionable in the at least one gap. The at least one spacer unit includes a resilient element that is controllably deformable to vary a thickness of the at least one spacer unit to fill the at least one gap, and to reduce the likelihood of the at least one spacer unit interfering with relative movement between components of the movable joint. The at least one material forming the resilient element is compressible in a first direction with little or no expansion in a second direction normal to the first direction.

1 . A prosthetic system comprising:
 a movable joint defining at least one gap between first and second components; and   at least one spacer unit positionable in the at least one gap, the at least one spacer unit including a resilient element formed of at least one material that is controllably deformable to vary a thickness of the at least one spacer unit to fill the at least one gap, and to reduce a likelihood of the at least one spacer unit interfering with relative movement between the first and second components, wherein the at least one material forming the resilient element is compressible in a first direction with little or no expansion in a second direction normal to the first direction, said resilient element providing axial resistance by spacing the first component to the second component.   
     
     
         2 . The prosthetic system of  claim 1 , wherein the first component comprises an outer tube and the second component comprises a bushing arranged to guide movement of an inner tube within the outer tube, the resilient element reducing play between the outer tube and the bushing. 
     
     
         3 . The prosthetic system of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one spacer unit includes first and second gaps, an inner surface of the outer tube defines the first gap is formed by a first annular groove at a first portion of the outer tube and the second gap is formed by a second annular groove at a second portion at an opposite end of the outer tube from the first portion. 
     
     
         4 . The prosthetic system of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one spacer unit includes a first spacer unit positioned in the first annular groove and a second spacer unit positioned in the second annular groove. 
     
     
         5 . The prosthetic system of  claim 3 , wherein the resilient element comprises first and second strip elements arranged in the first and second annular grooves defined by an inner surface of the outer tube, respectively. 
     
     
         6 . The prosthetic system of  claim 5 , wherein the first and second spacer units are arranged so that air can move between ends of the first and second strip elements in the first and second annular grooves. 
     
     
         7 . The prosthetic system of  claim 5 , wherein the first and second strip elements are arranged in the first and second annular grooves so that no gap remains between ends of the first and second strip elements to the first and second annular grooves. 
     
     
         8 . The prosthetic system of  claim 2 , further comprising a bushing arranged to guide movement of the inner tube within the outer tube, the inner tube being operatively connected to an adapter and a spring element housed within the inner tube and biased against the outer tube. 
     
     
         9 . The prosthetic system of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one spacer unit is positioned in annular grooves formed by an outer surface of the inner tube. 
     
     
         10 . The prosthetic system of  claim 3 , wherein the resilient element comprises a pair of strip elements arranged in annular grooves defined by an inner surface of the outer tube. 
     
     
         11 . The prosthetic system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one spacer unit is resistant to lubricant or grease. 
     
     
         12 . The prosthetic system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one spacer unit is resistant to permanent deformation. 
     
     
         13 . The prosthetic system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one spacer unit is air permeable. 
     
     
         14 . The prosthetic system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one material forming the resilient element is a foam material. 
     
     
         15 . The prosthetic system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one material forming the resilient element is an elastomeric material. 
     
     
         16 . A prosthetic system comprising:
 a movable joint defining at least one gap between first and second components; and   at least one spacer unit positionable in the at least one gap, the at least one spacer unit including a resilient element formed of at least one material that is controllably deformable to vary a thickness of the at least one spacer unit to fill the at least one gap, and to reduce a likelihood of the at least one spacer unit interfering with relative movement between the first and second components, wherein the at least one material forming the resilient element is compressible in a first direction with little or no expansion in a second direction normal to the first direction;   wherein the first component comprises an outer tube and the second component comprises a bushing arranged to guide movement of an inner tube within the outer tube, the resilient element reducing play between the outer tube and the bushing, the bushing arranged to guide movement of the inner tube within the outer tube, the inner tube being operatively connected to an adapter and a spring element housed within the inner tube and biased against the outer sleeve;   wherein the first component comprises an outer tube and the second component comprises a bushing arranged to guide movement of an inner tube within the outer tube.   wherein the at least one spacer unit includes first and second gaps, an inner surface of the outer tube defines the first gap is formed by a first annular groove and the second gap is formed by a second annular groove directed toward a bottom of the outer tube.   wherein the at least one spacer unit includes a first spacer unit positioned in the first annular groove and a second spacer unit positioned in the second annular groove;   wherein the resilient element comprises first and second strip elements arranged in the first and second annular grooves defined by an inner surface of the outer tube, respectively.   
     
     
         17 . The prosthetic system of  claim 16 , wherein the first and second strip elements are arranged in the first and second annular grooves so that no gap remains between ends of the first and second strip elements to the first and second annular grooves. 
     
     
         18 . The prosthetic system of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one spacer unit is resistant to lubricant or grease. 
     
     
         19 . The prosthetic system of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one spacer unit is resistant to permanent deformation. 
     
     
         20 . The prosthetic system of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one spacer unit is air permeable.