Arm socket and attached hand prosthesis

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide an arm socket that is easy to put on and that can be fitted by the user to changes in the shape of the residuum or the amount of padding required over a scar or bony area.
It is another object to provide an artificial hand for firmly grasping a tool or a workpiece.
It is also an object to provide an arm socket and attached hand prosthesis that is rugged, relatively inexpensive and simple to construct and maintain.
Other objects and features of the invention will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.
In accordance with the invention, a socket for a residuum of an arm has a shell formed to essentially match the contour of the residuum.
The shell has an open proximal end and a closed distal end.
A posterior wall and an anterior wall are attached to the closed end, as are opposed medial and lateral walls.
Medial and lateral walls merge into the posterior and anterior walls to form a continuous sidewall.
The shell has a lining of soft, compressible material disposed over at least a portion of an interior surface of the shell.
A gate is formed in the anterior wall, opening the shell along its open proximal end and is hinged along either the medial or lateral walls.
A fastener for securing the gate closed is provided along the medial or lateral wall opposite the hinged side of the gate.
When the gate is open, the lining in the shell can be adjusted for changes in the shape of the residuum or the amount of padding required over a scar or bony area and the residuum can be easily slipped into the socket.
A hand prosthesis for attachment to the socket includes an artificial hand and a connector.
The artificial hand has an elongated plate with a pair of jaws at one end.
One of the jaws is movable toward the other to grasp an article therebetween.
A slidable ratchet bar is mounted on the plate and is connected to the movable jaw for moving the movable jaw towards the other jaw.
The ratchet bar has teeth and is connected to a shoulder operable cable