Adjustable mounting housing for prosthetic ankle flexure joint

• US 20040002672A1
• Filed: 06/28/2002
• Published: 01/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tamarack Habilitation Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Tamarack Habilitation Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Carlson, J. Martin
• Granted Patent: US 6,824,523 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 602/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2005/0139 geared
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0113 Drop-foot appliances
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0127 for the feet A61F5/0111 takes precedence

Abstract

An assembly for an orthosis includes a flexure unit for joining two parts of the orthosis, such as a foot shell and an ankle or leg shell. One end portion of the flexure unit is supported on a housing that permits angular adjustment of the end portion of the flexure unit relative to the section of the orthosis on which the end portion is mounted. The angular adjustment is accomplished by utilizing a positive drive between a base portion and a housing that traps the end portion of the flexure in position on the base. This permits varying the assisting force, for example, toe lift, of the flexure unit between orthosis shell parts when the orthosis is worn.

Claims

1. A mounting assembly for a flexure hinge for permitting hinging movement between first and second orthosis parts, including a base attachable to one of the parts, a support on the base for supporting a flexure unit, a mounting housing trapping an end portion of the flexure unit and retaining the end portion on the support, and an angular adjustment device for angularly adjusting the position of the mounting housing relative to the base about an axis perpendicular to the base.

2. The mounting assembly of claim 1 wherein the adjustment device comprises a rotatable pinion on one of the base and the mounting housing, and a pinion gear engaged by the pinion and mounted on the other of the base and mounting housing, whereby rotation of the pinion causes movement of pinion gear to control relative pivoting of the housing and base about the axis.

3. The mounting assembly of claim 1 wherein the housing has walls to support an end portion of the flexure to control movement of the flexure about the axis.

4. The mounting assembly of claim 1 wherein the support comprises a post protruding substantially perpendicular to a plane of the base, said axis being a central axis, the flexure unit and housing being pivotally mounted on the post, such that the adjustment of the housing causes pivoting of both the flexure end portion and the housing about the axis of the post.

5. The mounting assembly of claim 4 wherein the base comprises a base plate, and said housing has a wall that is parallel to the base plate when installed on the post on the base plate, said wall covering an outer side of the end portion of the flexure unit and preventing outward movement of the flexure unit relative to the base plate.

6. The mounting assembly of claim 1 wherein the pivoting between the housing and the base is controlled by a pinion and pinion gear drive arrangement.

7. The mounting assembly of claim 5 wherein the base plate has stop members thereon that stop pivoting of the flexure member in both direction of pivoting.

8. The mounting assembly of claim 2 wherein the pinion is rotatably mounted on the base.

9. The mounting assembly of claim 1 wherein the mounting housing has a side wall and an edge wall at right angles to the side wall, the edge wall overlying edges of the end portion of the flexure unit, and the side wall being spaced from the base, the end portion of the flexure unit being between the side wall and the base.

10. In combination with an orthosis having a pair of support shells including a foot shell and a leg shell, and flexure units have aligning flexible portions on opposite sides of the shell to form an ankle joint between the leg shell and foot shell, the improvement comprising a mounting assembly for at least one end of each of the flexure units, each mounting assembly comprising a base supported on the respective shell, a support for pivotally mounting an end portion of a flexure unit on the base, a mounting housing pivotally mounted on the base on the same pivotal mounting as the respective end portion, and an adjustment device between the base and the mounting housing to permit changing the angular position of the mounting housing about the pivotal mounting relative to the base.

11. The combination of claim 10, wherein the adjustment device comprises a rack and pinion drive between the base and the mounting housing.

12. A variable angle mounting for a flexure hinge comprising a base adapted to be supported onto an orthosis shell, said base having a mounting post extending therefrom, said post having a central axis and being of size to receive and pivotally support an end portion of a flexure hinge, a housing supported on the post and having wall portions to overlie end portions of a flexure hinge on the post, and a drive to vary the angular position of the housing relative to the base about the post.

13. The variable mounting of claim 12 wherein the drive comprises a rotatable threaded drive on one of the base and housing, and a reaction member on the other end of the base and housing, the reaction member being moved by the threaded drive when the threaded drive is rotated.

14. The variable mounting of claim 12 wherein the drive comprises a pinion and pinion gear drivably coupled between the base and the housing.

15. The variable mounting of claim 14 wherein the housing has a curved wall at one end formed on a radius about the central axis, the curved wall having pinion gear teeth thereon, and a support on the base for mounting a pinion in position to engage the gear teeth.