Seals stop leaks from prosthetic joints
A
Trelleborg Sealing Solutions product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team
Apr 18, 2006
Chas A Blatchford worked with Busak+Shamban to identify leak-free effective sealing for knee joints in replacement lower limbs.
Chas A Blatchford manufactures the world leading Endolite range of artificial limb components.
The company worked with Busak+Shamban to identify leak-free effective sealing for knee joints in replacement lower limbs.
The technology behind the design and manufacture of artificial limbs has come a long way since they were made of wood.
The prosthetic's produced by Blatchford include an advanced mix of microprocessors, hydraulics, stabilising units and wireless programming to help them as closely as possible reproduce the performance of the amputee's lost limb.
It is thinking technology that responds to the wearer's natural rhythm and the cadence of their walking style, blurring the boundary between real and artificial.
Seals are used within the hydraulic system of the artificial limb.
They have a joint function, sealing hydraulic fluid within the unit and acting as a damper on the movement of the prosthesis.
Effective leak-free sealing is vital in these components; the last thing that a user wants is hydraulic fluid leaking from their artificial limb.
Chas A Blatchford investigated a number of alternative sealing options.
Working closely with Busak+Shamban engineers a sealing arrangement was designed incorporating a combination of Glydring and Turcon Stepseal.
The Turcon Stepseal was chosen as it is the most effective seal for rod seal applications.
Its PTFE based Turcon material also had the optimum friction characteristics to enhance limb movement and could demonstrate extended life.
The seals underwent long-term tests both on rigs and in components fitted on patients.
The Glydring and Turcon Stepseal combination met all the performance characteristic requirements and are now the standard seals on Endolite Adaptive and IP+ products.
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