Enhanced Method for Manufacturing Customized Sleeves for Prostheses

An improved method for manufacturing customized sleeves for prostheses, featuring advanced injection techniques and materials to enhance comfort, durability, and customization.

The original patent disclosed a method for manufacturing customized sleeves for prostheses, but it had limitations in terms of material selection, injection techniques, and customization options. The new inventive concept addresses these limitations by introducing advanced materials, robotic arm-based injection, and 3D printing techniques to create complex geometries and patterns, resulting in improved comfort, durability, and customization for users.

The new inventive concept involves the use of advanced materials, such as polymer cross-linkable at low temperature, and innovative injection techniques, including spiral pattern injection and multi-layer injection with varying hardness. The method also incorporates the use of robotic arms and 3D printing techniques to enable the creation of complex geometries and patterns. This results in customized sleeves with improved comfort, durability, and customization options. The system comprises a mold of an end of a limb of an individual, a preform made of an elastomer material, and an injection device for injecting the polymer around the preform. The preform has a variable thickness, and the injection device is configured to inject the polymer in a spiral pattern or in multiple layers with varying hardness.

The new claims introduce novel elements, such as the use of polymer cross-linkable at low temperature, robotic arm-based injection, and 3D printing techniques, which are not present in the original patent. These elements provide an inventive step by enabling the creation of customized sleeves with improved comfort, durability, and customization options.

Alternative embodiments of the inventive concept could include the use of different materials, such as bi-component silicone, or varying the injection patterns and techniques. Additionally, the system could be adapted for use with different types of prostheses or for manufacturing customized sleeves for other medical devices.

The enhanced method for manufacturing customized sleeves for prostheses has significant commercial potential in the medical device industry, particularly in the prosthetics and orthotics market. The improved comfort, durability, and customization options provided by the new inventive concept could lead to increased adoption and market share.