US 11,806,255 B2
Multi-chamber vacuum pump
John A. Erdmann, Holladay, UT (US); Charles C. Polta, Gottingen (DE); Florian W. S. Poser, Salt Lake City, UT (US); and Douglas E. Rush, Salt Lake City, UT (US)
Assigned to OTTO BOCK HEALTHCARE LP, Austin, TX (US)
Filed by OTTO BOCK HEALTHCARE LP, Austin, TX (US)
Filed on Sep. 26, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/584,389.
Application 16/584,389 is a continuation of application No. 15/253,582, filed on Aug. 31, 2016, granted, now 10,426,639.
Prior Publication US 2020/0046523 A1, Feb. 13, 2020
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61F 2/80 (2006.01); A61F 2/70 (2006.01); A61F 2/66 (2006.01)
CPC A61F 2/80 (2013.01) [A61F 2/66 (2013.01); A61F 2/70 (2013.01); A61F 2002/6614 (2013.01); A61F 2002/802 (2013.01); A61F 2002/805 (2013.01); A61F 2002/807 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A weight activated vacuum pump for a prosthetic device, comprising:
a hollow elongate structure;
a piston positioned within the hollow elongate structure;
a first fluid pumping chamber positioned within the hollow elongate structure and arranged on a first side of the piston, the first fluid pumping chamber having a variable volume as the piston moves axially relative to a shaft;
a second fluid pumping chamber positioned within the hollow elongate structure and arranged on a second side of the piston opposite the first side, the second fluid pumping chamber having a variable volume as the piston moves axially relative to the shaft;
a first valve;
a second valve; and
a third valve;
wherein the first fluid pumping chamber is fluidly connectable to a socket of the prosthetic device through the first valve and fluidly connected to the second fluid pumping chamber through the second valve, and the second fluid pumping chamber is fluidly connected to atmosphere through the third valve, wherein at least one of the first valve, the second valve, or the third valve is positioned within the piston;
wherein moving the piston in a first axial direction draws air from the socket into the first fluid pumping chamber and expels air from the second fluid pumping chamber, and moving the piston in a second axial direction opposite the first axial direction forces air from the first fluid pumping chamber into the second fluid pumping chamber.