Invention Grant
- Patent Title: Method and apparatus for restoring alignment of the support socket in the manufacture of leg prostheses
- Patent Title (中): 用于在腿假体的制造中恢复支撑插座对准的方法和装置
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Application No.: US10904607Application Date: 2004-11-18
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Publication No.: US07685701B2Publication Date: 2010-03-30
- Inventor: Yuichi Hikichi
- Applicant: Yuichi Hikichi
- Agency: Seth M. Reiss, AAL, ALLLC
- Agent Seth M. Reiss
- Main IPC: B23P21/00
- IPC: B23P21/00 ; B23Q15/00

Abstract:
An apparatus for restoring the alignment of the support socket with other structural components during the fabrication of a leg prosthesis comprising a stand with base, a means to secure the lower aspect of the leg prosthesis to the stand base, and a laser source attached to the top of the stand that emits visible cross-beams downward onto the leg prosthesis when the prosthesis is mounted on the stand base. The method of the invention uses the described apparatus with leg prosthesis mounted thereon to mark points on the inside of a check or test socket that coincide with the laser cross-beams; transferring these marks from the check socket to the permanent support socket; and re-aligning the permanent support socket with the lower aspect prosthetic components by mounting the leg prosthesis with permanent support socket on the alignment apparatus and matching the marks to the laser cross-beams. A removable base plate allows for a number of leg prostheses to be fabricated concurrently, using the same alignment apparatus. The method and apparatus of the present invention reduces the time and expense of orthotic fabrication while increasing the accuracy of alignment of the finished prosthetic product.
Public/Granted literature
- US20060106465A1 Method and Apparatus for Restoring Alignment of the Support Socket in the Manufacture of Leg Prostheses Public/Granted day:2006-05-18
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