referring now to fig1 there is illustrated the method of utilizing a prosthetic sock in accordance with the present invention in a conventional stump - receiving socket . a stump sock 10 in accordance with the present invention is smoothly stretched over the stump s . sock 10 has an impregnated annular seal 12 made of an air impermeable , elastic material , which preferably extends both exteriorly and interiorly of the sock . for the patient &# 39 ; s comfort , the sealing band should extend primarily exteriorly of the sock . the sock has preferably been impregnated with a rubberized material by means of the process described below or an equivalent process to form sealing band 12 . the sealing band is preferably 1 - 2 inches wide and preferably no more than 3 / 32 of an inch thick at its thickest point . preferably , the sealing band should also be feathered to a negligible thickness at its upper and lower extremities . the sealing band should be placed as proximally as possible with respect to the stump - receiving socket p ( i . e . as high as possible on the patient &# 39 ; s stump ). preferably , it is positioned within the top third of the sock , but it may occasionally be in the middle third . the precise dimensions and location of the annular band will depend on the nature of the sock and the socket being used , as well as the specific anatomy of the patient &# 39 ; s stump , which differs with various levels of amputation and different individuals . when properly fabricated , the seal 12 provides an effective seal between the stump s and the socket , once the patient &# 39 ; s stump is inserted . the sock 10 may therefore be used with well - fitted sockets that are not suction sockets and will convert the socket to a suction socket , by the simple addition of a one - way air valve to the socket . under these circumstances , the patient may also utilize a shoe horn , or similar device , to break the air seal during insertion and removal of the stump from the artificial limb , if no air valve is added . fig2 illustrates a stump - receiving socket 20 with an integral annular sealing member in accordance with the present invention . as will be explained more fully below , the socket 20 is preferably fabricated by forming it directly over a prosthetic sock in accordance with the present invention , utilizing conventional lamination procedures . as will be appreciated from fig1 and 2 , the inner sealing band 12 acts as an air - tight seal over a substantial distance prior to the full insertion of stump s into the socket . as the patient &# 39 ; s stump is inserted further into the socket , air pressure builds up under the stump . this air escapes from the socket by means of a conventional one - way valve v . this valve allows entrapped air to escape to the outside and then closes automatically when the pressure equalizes , thereby blocking reentry of air into the socket . as a result , when the stump is completely inserted in the socket , the air pressure is equal inside and outside the socket . any tendency to remove the stump from the socket would increase the space between the inner socket wall and the stump , reducing the pressure inside the socket , since external air is unable to enter . the difference between air pressure and the reduced pressure within the socket then acts to maintain the socket on the stump . those skilled in the art will appreciate that valve v would include a control to retain it open , in order to permit removal of the stump . owing to the ready availability of stump socks , the process of the present invention would preferably makes use of such devices as the basic stump cladding between the stump and the socket . however the use of stump socks is only illustrative , and it is contemplated that the stump cladding may be made of essentially any sheet material formed into a layer between the patient &# 39 ; s stump and the socket . the fabrication process for prosthetic sock 10 will be described , for illustrative purposes , with respect a conventional stump sock for a typical below - knee amputee . owing to the irregular bony characteristics of below - knee stumps , these are the most difficult cases on which to effect suction retention . subsequently , there will be described a process for manufacturing a stump - receiving socket with an integral sealing band . in every case , the stump sock with the impregnated sealing band must be fabricated as a preliminary step to this latter process . in addition , the fabrication procedures for stump socks and sockets in accordance with the present invention for all other levels of amputation are very similar to those that will be described , but the devices will vary in their dimensions and location of the sealing band , as well as the characteristics of the stump sock used . in manufacturing the stump sock 10 with an impregnated sealing band , use is made of a somewhat oversized form that matches the shape of the stump sock . this is not a model of any particular patient &# 39 ; s stump , but is more in the nature of a cylindrical or conical shape of the right general size . in general , different forms would be used for very different size socks . in any event , the form should be sufficiently large so that the sock is moderately stretched when it is placed over the form . in referring to locations on the form , the socks , and the stump - receiving socket , the stump itself will be used as a reference . that is , the end of the sock and socket which are the most proximal when worn on the stump will be referred to as the proximal ends and vice versa . when the sock and socket are worn by the patient , the proximal end is uppermost , assuming the patient is standing . on the other hand , the sock and socket are normally fabricated in an inverted position , so that the proximal end is then lowermost . accordingly , the bottom of the form would be considered the proximal end . consistent use of the terms &# 34 ; proximal end &# 34 ; and &# 34 ; distal end &# 34 ; will therefore avoid any confusion . as may be seen in fig4 the form 30 for the fabrication of a prosthetic sock 10 in accordance with the present invention is provided with a pipe mandrel , preferably made of half - inch pipe and protruding approximately 6 inches from the proximal end of the form . radial holes 32a , preferably 1 / 8 inch in diameter , are drilled in the pipe 32 in close proximity to the form . the precise position of these holes is of no importance . a strip of porous material is wrapped repeatedly around the pipe just proximal to the form , for example to a thickness of approximately 1 / 8 of an inch . this strip forms the wick 34 and preferably extends for approximately 3 inches along the pipe . the wick is secured by means of an additional strip of fabric 33 , which is secured about it . the purpose of wick 34 will be discussed more fully below . as may be seen in fig5 the first plastic bag , preferably made of polyvinyl alcohol ( pva ) is pulled down tautly over the form and is knotted at the distal end . the bag is again pulled taut , and the proximal end is tied down by means of a band 42 at approximately the midpoint of the wick 34 . the remainder of bag 40 just distal to band 42 is then trimmed off ( compare fig5 and 6 ). as may be seen in fig6 a conventional stump sock 50 is then stretched tautly over the pva bag 40 and is tied down approximately at the midpoint of wick 34 by means of a band 52 . a horizontal band area 54 of the desired width is then marked off lightly around the circumference of the sock 50 . to assist in understanding , portions fig6 are shown in section . next , as shown in fig7 a second pva bag 60 is pulled tautly over the stump sock 50 bag 60 is knotted at its distal end and again pulled tautly , with stretched tape 62 being applied tautly around bag 60 so that its lowermost edge is aligned with the distal extreme of the marked off band area 54 the proximal portion 60a of bag 60 beyond the stretch tape 6 is then carefully trimmed off , as is the portion of the bag distal to the knot . referring to fig8 a sheer nylon tubular &# 34 ; knee - high &# 34 ; sock 70 is then applied over bag 60 and is pulled taut . stretch tape 72 is applied tautly about the perimeter of sock 70 , so as to overlie tape 62 . the proximal portion of kneehigh 70 beyond the tape 72 is then carefully trimmed off . sock 70 is provided in order to avoid substantial sliding friction between bag 60 and any plastic bags which are subsequently applied thereover such sliding friction would make it difficult or impossible to pull an additional bag tautly over bag 60 . a third pva bag 80 is then applied over the entire structure and pulled taut ( see fig9 ). bag 80 is tied by means of a band 82 , at a point proximal to wick 34 so a to encapsulate the wick . the distal end of bag 80 is attached to a funnel by means of an appropriate band 84 . stretch tape 86 is then applied tautly about the bag 80 so that its upper most edge aligns with the proximal most edge of band area 54 marked on sock 50 . the layup for impregnating sock 50 with a rubberized compound is now complete and will have the appearance of fig9 . a source of vacuum , such as a pump , is connected to the proximal end of the mandrel pipe 32 and , while the portion of bag 80 just below the funnel is pinched of with the fingers , vacuum is applied and adjusted to preferably 7 inches hg . some discussion is warranted concerning how the vacuum is communicated from the pipe 32 to the upper portion of bag 80 . it will be recalled that a porous wick 34 extends partially under bag 40 and sock 50 and that the proximal half of the wick is encapsulated by bag 80 . when a vacuum is applied at the bottom of pipe 32 , it is communicated to the wick through apertures 32a of the pipe 32 . inasmuch as the wick is porous , the vacuum is communicated under bag 40 , as well as outside bag 40 , through sock 50 , and into the region between bag 80 and sock 50 . beneath bag 40 , the vacuum serves to retain the bag securely against form 30 . the vacuum within bag 80 is communicated upwardly within the bag and , therefore , appears at the funnel when the rubberized liquid material is poured into the funnel , it is drawn into bag 80 by the vacuum , but the downward travel of the liquid is interrupted by the tape 86 . liquid rubberized material accumulates under bag 80 distally of tape 86 , and forms a reservoir of liquid 88 above sock 70 . in the region above tape 86 , liquid is drawn into sock 50 , impregnating it . if necessary , additional rubberized liquid may be forced down to the region of tape 86 by squeezing the bag at the reservoir . after a sufficient quantity of the rubberized liquid is present in the region of the tape 86 , that region is formed to a uniform thickness by means of &# 34 ; stringing &# 34 ;. this is a procedure whereby an eight to ten inch length of string is held between the hands and is applied axially along the external contour of bag 80 , in order to shape it properly or to move the rubberized liquid therein . during stringing , the diameter of the liquid material is measured with the calipers at the axial midpoint between the bands 72 and 86 ( i . e . the region where the sealing band is to be formed ). stringing continues until a caliper measurement indicates that the diameter is three sixteenths of an inch larger than it was before the rubberized liquid was introduced ( this , of course , assumes that a previous measurement of the diameter was taken ). the diameter can be reduced by stringing liquid up towards the reservoir , or it can be increased by stringing liquid down form the reservoir . when the proper thickness of the rubberized liquid is present , the proximal and distal extremes of the soon - to - be sealing band are tapered down by stringing . stringing may continue until the rubberized liquid material is nearly cured . after the rubberized liquid material has fully cured , the outer layers overlying sock 50 are carefully removed from the impregnated sock , and then the sock is carefully removed from the form . the completed impregnated sock 10 then has the appearance of fig3 . the rubberized liquid material is preferably a medical grade silicone elastomer , such as that available under the commercial name ipocon 7 . this is a two component product in which &# 34 ; liquid a &# 34 ; is cured with either &# 34 ; component b &# 34 ; or &# 34 ; component b - quick &# 34 ;, or a mixture of the two . the curing time can be varied from 1 / 2 hour using pure &# 34 ; component b - quick &# 34 ; to 3 hours using pure &# 34 ; component b &# 34 ;. the hardness of the silicone can be varied by changing the ratio between the &# 34 ; liquid a &# 34 ; and the curing mixture . in preparing the preferred silicone mixture , the mixing container is first weighed empty . approximately 60 ml of &# 34 ; liquid a &# 34 ; are poured into the container and the container is reweighed . preferably , for every 7 grams of &# 34 ; liquid a &# 34 ;, one gram of &# 34 ; component b - quick &# 34 ; is added , and the mixture is stirred well for half a minute . the mixture is then ready for pouring into the outer bag 80 of the layup for manufacturing sock 10 . initially , approximately half of the liquid may be squeezed out of the reservoir into the region of bag 80 above tape 86 . for those patients who do not wear stump socks , the present invention contemplates fabricating a stump - receiving socket with an integral , internal sealing band . fig1 is a fragmentary perspective view of such a stump socket 20 , with the sealing band being indicated by the reference character 22 . the first step in fabricating such a socket 20 is to fabricate a prosthetic sock 10 with an impregnated sealing band 12 , as previously described . as is the common practice , the suction socket will be fabricated on a plaster model or cast of the amputee &# 39 ; s stump . as may be seen in fig1 , the silicone impregnated sock 10 is stretched over the cast 90 so that the band 12 is properly located . the location of the distal and proximal edges of the band 12 are then lightly marked off on the plaster cast , to create a marked off area 92 , and the stump sock 10 is then removed . as may be seen in fig1 , a channel 94 is then carved in the marked area 92 and the depth of the channel 94 is determined by the thickness of the silicone band 12 . as indicated in the detailed fragmentary view of fig1 , the edges 95 , 95 of channel 94 are then blended into the cast to avoid ridges or abrupt contours . cast 90 is similar to form 30 described above , in that it includes a similar pipe mandrel 32 . the socket 20 is fabricated by a vacuum lamination process which is similar to the process described above with respect to fig4 - 9 . initially , the sock 10 is stretched over the cast 90 with the sealing band 12 being within groove 94 . sock 10 is then tied off to pipe 32 . as shown in the fragmentary sectional view of fig1 , a dacron sleeve 96 is then pulled over cast 92 and sock 10 . thereafter , five layers of nylon stockinette 98 are pulled over the dacron sleeve and a pva bag 100 is pulled over the stockinette layers 98 . like bag 80 of fig9 bag 100 is open on top , and lamination proceeds in a similar manner by introducing a polyester or acrylic resin at the top of bag 100 . this is drawn into the bag by means of a vacuum , similar to the process of fig9 . after the plastic has set , any excess laminate is trimmed off , and the plaster cast is carefully chiseled out to prevent any damage to the sealing band 12 . the proximal area of the socket may then be trimmed and finished as required . the detailed procedures for laminating a suction socket are well known to those skilled in the art , and detailed descriptions thereof may be found , for ex ample , in the following references , the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference : manual of below knee prosthetics , biomechanics laboratory , university of california , november 1959 ; adjustable - brim fitting of the total contact above - knee socket , biomechanics laboratory , university of california , march 1963 . with either the prosthetic sock or the socket of the present invention , air leaks may occasionally be discovered after the patient has donned his prosthesis . the sock or socket may readily be repaired at this time . as the initial step in the effecting the repair , the air leak is located and marked while the patient is wearing his prosthesis . if the patient is utilizing a sock in accordance with the present invention , then the sock is removed and stretched over a form . the sealing hand is cleaned with acetone and allowed to dry . appropriate proportions of ipocon body paste &# 34 ; component a &# 34 ; and &# 34 ; component b &# 34 ; are mixed together . the mixture is then applied with a spatula to the marked off areas to increase the thickness as required . the surface of this application is then smoothed with the spatula and the entire application is tapered own at the edges . after the paste has cured , the sock may be removed from the form and restored to service . if the patient is utilizing a suction socket in accordance with the present invention , the prosthesis is removed , and a similar process to the preceding is followed in order to repair the integral sealing band . although preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes , those skilled in the art will appreciate that many additions , modification and substitutions are possible without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as defined in the accompanying claims . for example , the sealing band need not be made of solid rubberized material , but could filled with a pressurized gas , such as air , or a liquid .
an air impermeable sealing band of rubberized material is introduced between the patient &# 39 ; s stump and the interior of a stump - receiving socket of an artificial limb , in one of two ways , depending on whether or not the patient wears a stump sock . if the patient wears a stump sock , the band of sealant material is impregnated into the stump sock . if the patient does not wear a stump sock , an impregnated sock is incorporated into the interior structure of the socket of the patient &# 39 ; s prosthesis . the impregnated sock itself is fabricated by placing a conventional stump sock on a somewhat oversized form . an appropriate annular region on the sock is then masked off by means of tightly fitting plastic bags , and one of the plastic bags provides an enclosing outer sheath which encompasses the annular region and extends upwardly above the form . a rubberized material in liquid form is introduced through the top of the outer sheath and a vacuum is introduced below to draw the material into the annular region of the sock , so as top impregnate the same . the rubberized material penetrates the sock , is worked into an axially contoured shaped , and is then permitted to set . a stump - receiving socket for an artificial limb with an integral annular seal is fabricated by placing a stump sock with the seal on a cast of a patient &# 39 ; s leg and then laminating the socket over the sock using conventional procedures for manufacturing stump - receiving sockets .