Prosthetic Leg Liner Bolt Alignment Device
-US Patent # 9,801,736-
- device that helps to readily attach a below the knee prosthetic leg liner -
User claimed: "this unit changed my life!"
Positions liner pin to be perpendicular to the stump end, eliminating trapped air.
Allows the user to quickly "roll-on" liner with pin aligner perfectly for quick insertion into the prostheses.
Background:
Below the knee prosthetic legs are typically attached using a
suspension liner that covers the amputated leg stump and includes a liner
pin that then locks onto the prosthetic leg. The liner is placed on the leg
stump by holding the liner pin in one hand with the liner turned inside
out. The liner pin is held perpendicular and aligned straight out from the
stump while another hand is used to roll the liner onto the leg stump. The
result should be that the liner pin is projecting perpendicular to the
stump end, leaving no air between the stump and the liner, so that the
prosthetic leg can be readily attached. If the liner pin is not
positioned correctly, the user cannot easily direct the liner pin into the
locking hole of the prosthetic leg.
If the pin is not aligned properly, the person must take the liner
off and try again. For individuals that have amputated legs that are far
down on the leg, it is very difficult to bend over and hold the liner pin
perpendicular to the end of the stump. If the person is elderly or of large
build, it is almost impossible to hold the pin perpendicular without
help from someone else.
Device:
The invention is designed to hold the liner and
liner pin in
position in order to simplify the attachment of the liner to the leg stump
without the help from another person. The patent pending device is a simple fixture that
holds the liner pin in proper position so that the amputee does not need to
bend over and reach while trying to align the pin with the stump.
Procedure:
The amputee places the liner
pin inside the pin guide hole and then rolls the liner back over the sides
of the cup. The amputee, while sitting on a chair or bed,
inserts the leg stump end portion inside the liner covered cup. The
liner is then rolled up onto the leg stump very easily, thus
eliminating trapped air while holding the pin perpendicular to the stump.
The leg and liner is then removed from the cup and then inserted in the
prosthetic leg in perfect alignment. Since the pin is aligned property, the
pin connects to the prosthetic leg easily. The whole process takes less than
30 seconds to attach.