초록 ▼

A weight-actuated vacuum pump and shock absorber for an artificial limb. Ambulation causes the vacuum pump, under the influence of the wearer's body weight, to draw air out of the artificial limb socket cavity, producing a vacuum within the socket. The vacuum pulls the residual limb into firm and to

A weight-actuated vacuum pump and shock absorber for an artificial limb. Ambulation causes the vacuum pump, under the influence of the wearer's body weight, to draw air out of the artificial limb socket cavity, producing a vacuum within the socket. The vacuum pulls the residual limb into firm and total contact with the socket and prevents the loss of fluids in the residual limb. A shock absorber acts in conjunction with the vacuum pump to reduce the shock of impact on the wearer caused by ambulation.

대표청구항 ▼

A weight-actuated vacuum pump and shock absorber for an artificial limb. Ambulation causes the vacuum pump, under the influence of the wearer's body weight, to draw air out of the artificial limb socket cavity, producing a vacuum within the socket. The vacuum pulls the residual limb into firm and to

A weight-actuated vacuum pump and shock absorber for an artificial limb. Ambulation causes the vacuum pump, under the influence of the wearer's body weight, to draw air out of the artificial limb socket cavity, producing a vacuum within the socket. The vacuum pulls the residual limb into firm and total contact with the socket and prevents the loss of fluids in the residual limb. A shock absorber acts in conjunction with the vacuum pump to reduce the shock of impact on the wearer caused by ambulation. method according to claim 25 wherein the distal tip has a symmetrical shape about a longitudinal axis of the probe, the distal tip not predisposing the probe to bend in a particular direction relative to the longitudinal axis of the probe. 29. A method according to claim 25 wherein the distal tip is asymmetrical about a longitudinal axis of the probe which predisposes the probe to bend in a particular direction relative to the longitudinal axis of the probe. 30. A method according to claim 25 wherein the probe includes a device capable of supplying energy within the intervertebral disc, the energy selected from a group consisting of coherent light, incoherent light, RF energy, microwave energy, and ultrasound energy. 31. A method according to claim 25 wherein the probe includes a resistive heating mechanism capable of supplying energy within the intervertebral disc. 32. A method according to claim 25 wherein extending the probe is performed using a handle external to the person, the handle comprising a probe control element for controlling the movement of the probe within the intervertebral disc. 33. A method to claim 25 wherein extending the probe further comprises first extending a guide wire and then passing the probe over the guide wire. 34. A method according to claim 33 wherein extending the guide wire is performed using a handle external to the person, the handle comprising a guide wire control element for controlling the movement of the guide wire within the intervertebral disc. 35. A method according to claim 25 wherein the probe further includes an electromagnetic energy device capable of supplying energy within the intervertebral disc and treating tissue comprises delivering the electromagnetic energy to the tissue. 36. A method according to claim 35 wherein the electromagnetic energy device comprises electrodes adapted to deliver RF energy. 37. A method according to claim 36 wherein the RF electrodes have a monopolar configuration. 38. A method according to claim 36 wherein the RF electrodes have a bipolar configuration. 39. An intervertebral disc device comprising: a probe sized to be extended from a distal end of an introducer that is percutaneously delivered into an interior of an intervertebral disc, a distal section of the probe comprising a flexible neck which tapers in a proximal to distal direction, and a distal tip which is larger in cross sectional diameter than the flexible neck adjacent the distal tip, the flexible neck and distal tip serving to prevent the probe distal section from piercing an internal wall of the intervertebral disc; and a proximal handle for externally guiding the probe within an intervertebral disc, wherein the flexible neck is predisposed to bending in at leas