Patents by Inventor David Wiley Alford

David Wiley Alford has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Vacuum assisted prosthetic sleeve and socket utilizing a double membrane liner
    Patent number: 8080065
    Abstract: A prosthetic sleeve and socket system, the sleeve including dual flaps or skirts concentrically arranged about the sleeve and configured to form a sealed chamber between the sleeve and socket when the sleeve is inserted into the socket. An air permeable material is interposed between one of the skirts and the sleeve to maintain a continuous interconnected air layer therebetween. An expulsion valve is provided to allow air contained within the sealed chamber to be forced out of the chamber ahead of the sleeve when it is inserted into the socket, and a powered vacuum pump maintains the vacuum thereafter, if needed. The system allows for a substantial reduction in size of known sockets and permits, in some instances, the disposal of bulky suspension straps currently in use to force the socket against a residual limb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Scussel SBJ Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Rick C. Scussel, David Wiley Alford
  • VACUUM ASSISTED PROSTHETIC SLEEVE AND SOCKET UTILIZING A DOUBLE MEMBRANE LINER
    Publication number: 20080221706
    Abstract: A prosthetic sleeve and socket system, the sleeve including dual flaps or skirts concentrically arranged about the sleeve and configured to form a sealed chamber between the sleeve and socket when the sleeve is inserted into the socket. An air permeable material is interposed between one of the skirts and the sleeve to maintain a continuous interconnected air layer therebetween. An expulsion valve is provided to allow air contained within the sealed chamber to be forced out of the chamber ahead of the sleeve when it is inserted into the socket, and a powered vacuum pump maintains the vacuum thereafter, if needed. The system allows for a substantial reduction in size of known sockets and permits, in some instances, the disposal of bulky suspension straps currently in use to force the socket against a residual limb.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Applicant: Scussel S.B.J. Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Rick C. Scussel, David Wiley Alford