Prosthetic foot with an adjustable ankle and method

• US 20050119763A1
• Filed: 10/20/2004
• Published: 06/02/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Freedom Innovations LLC (Ottobock SE & Co. KGaA)
• Original Assignee: Freedom Innovations LLC (Ottobock SE & Co. KGaA)
• Inventors: Christensen, Roland J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,462,201 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/6607 Ankle joints
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30172 T-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30354 Cylindrically-shaped protrusion and recess, e.g. cylinder of circular basis
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30359 Pyramidally- or frustopyramidally-shaped protrusion and recess
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30405 made by screwing complementary threads machined on the parts themselves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30428 made by inserting a protrusion into a slot
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30433 using additional screws, bolts, dowels, rivets or washers e.g. connecting screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30471 connected by a hinged linkage mechanism, e.g. of the single-bar or multi-bar linkage type
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30525 Worm gears
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5018 for adjusting angular orientation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/502 for adjusting length
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5021 for adjusting a position by translation along an axis
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5039 allowing only for single rotation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/6621 Toes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/6642 Heels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/6664 Dual structures made of two connected cantilevered leaf springs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/6685 S-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/701 operated by electrically controlled means, e.g. solenoids or torque motors
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/704 computer-controlled, e.g. robotic control
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/705 Electromagnetic data transfer
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/707 : Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/762 : for measuring dimensions, e.g. a distance
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/7625 : for measuring angular position
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0025 : Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0033 : made by longitudinally pushing a protrusion into a complementary-shaped recess, e.g. held by friction fit
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0041 : using additional screws, bolts, dowels or rivets, e.g. connecting screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0091 : connected by a hinged linkage mechanism, e.g. of the single-bar or multi-bar linkage type
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0052 : T-shaped

Abstract

A prosthetic foot with an adjustable ankle includes an upper portion coupled to a socket of an amputee. A lower portion is adjustably coupled to the upper portion, and is attached to a foot member with heel and toe sections. A movable coupling is disposed between the upper and lower portions, and includes a displacement member slidably coupled to a displacement track. The movable coupling allows the toe section to pivot downward and the heel section to simultaneously displace forward. The adjustable ankle can be adjusted with a motor coupled to a tractor bolt coupled between the upper and lower portions. A level sensor can sense the orientation of the upper portion and send a signal to operate the motor to vertically orient the upper portion or level the foot.

Claims

1. An adjustable ankle device for a prosthetic foot, comprising:

a) an upper portion configured to be coupled to a socket of an amputee; and

b) a lower portion, adjustably coupled to the upper portion, configured to be attached to a foot member with heel and toe sections; and

c) a movable coupling, disposed between the upper and lower portions, and movable so that the lower portion moves;

i) simultaneously in a downward and forward direction in which the lower portion simultaneously pivots downward and displaces forward with respect to the upper portion; and

ii) simultaneously in a rearward and upward direction in which the lower portion simultaneously pivots upward and displaces rearward with respect to the upper portion; and

d) a motor, coupled to the movable coupling, to move the upper and lower portions with respect to one another.

2. A device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

a tractor bolt, rotatably coupled between the upper and lower portions, and drivable by the motor; and

a spool, coupled to one of the upper or lower portions, and coupled to the tractor bolt, the spool movable relative to the tractor bolt as the tractor bolt rotates.

3. A device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

a controller, selectively providing a drive signal to the motor; and

a level sensor, selectively providing a level signal to the controller.

4. A device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

a motor clip, coupled between the motor and the lower portion.

5. A device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

means for a user to manually control the motor.

6. A device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

a remote control selectively providing a signal to operate the motor.

7. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the lower portion is pivotal and displaceable with respect to the upper portion between at least two fixed positions, including:

a) a low position, in which the heel section is disposed at a lower elevational position, and in which the heel section is disposed in a rearward position; and

b) a high position, in which the heel section is disposed at a higher elevational position, and in which the heel section is disposed in a forward position.

8. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the movable coupling is oriented upright with respect to the lower portion and at least one end of the movable coupling is disposed at a lower elevation with respect to a central section of the movable coupling, and including a displacement member slidably coupled to a displacement track.

9. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the movable coupling further includes:

an arched coupling, disposed between the upper and lower portions and oriented upright with respect to the lower portion, the arched coupling having at least one end being disposed at a lower elevation with respect to a central section of the arched coupling and including an arcuate projection slidable in an arcuate slot.

10. A device in accordance with claim 9, further comprising an attachment member attached to the upper portion with the arcuate slot formed in the attachment member;

and further comprising a foot member with the arcuate projection extending from the foot member.

11. A device in accordance with claim 9, wherein the arcuate slot has a T-shaped cross-sectional shape;

and wherein the arcuate projection has a T-shaped cross-sectional shape.

12. A device in accordance with claim 9, wherein the arcuate projection includes a concave bearing surface.

13. A prosthetic foot device with an adjustable ankle, comprising:

a) an attachment member configured to be coupled to a socket of an amputee;

b) a foot member, coupled to and adjustable with respect to the attachment member, the foot member having heel and toe sections, and being pivotal and displaceable in;

i) a downward and forward direction in which the toe section pivots downward and the heel portion simultaneously displaces forward with respect to the attachment member; and

ii) a rearward and upward direction in which the toe section pivots upward and the heel portion simultaneously displaces rearward with respect to the attachment member;

c) a tractor bolt, rotatably disposed between the attachment member and the foot member;

d) a spool, carried by the attachment member or the foot member, and rotatably disposed on the tractor bolt and movable with respect to the tractor bolt as the tractor bolt rotates; and

e) a motor, coupled to the tractor bolt and capable of rotating the tractor bolt.

14. A device in accordance with claim 13, further comprising:

a controller, selectively providing a drive signal to the motor; and

a level sensor, selectively providing a level signal to the controller.

15. A device in accordance with claim 13, further comprising:

a motor clip, coupled between the motor and the foot member.

16. A device in accordance with claim 13, further comprising:

a remote control selectively providing a signal to operate the motor.

17. A device in accordance with claim 13, wherein the foot member is pivotal and displaceable with respect to the attachment member between at least two fixed positions, including:

a) a low position in which the heel section is disposed at a lower elevational position, and in which the heel section is disposed in a rearward position; and

b) a high position in which the heel section is disposed at a higher elevational position, and in which the heel section is disposed in a forward direction.

18. A device in accordance with claim 13, wherein the foot member is both pivotal and slidable with respect to the attachment member.

19. A device in accordance with claim 13, further comprising:

a) an arcuate slot, associated with one of the attachment member or foot member; and

b) an arcuate projection, associated with the other of the foot member or attachment member, and slidably disposed in the arcuate slot.

20. A device in accordance with claim 19, wherein the arcuate slot is formed in the attachment member;

and wherein the arcuate projection extends from the foot member.

21. A device in accordance with claim 19, wherein the arcuate slot has a T-shaped cross-sectional shape;

and wherein the arcuate projection has a T-shaped cross-sectional shape.

22. A device in accordance with claim 19, wherein the arcuate projection includes a concave bearing surface.

23. A prosthetic foot device, comprising:

a) an attachment member configured to be coupled to a socket of an amputee; and

b) a foot member, adjustably coupled to the attachment member, having heel and toe sections;

c) an adjustable ankle, coupling the foot member to the attachment member, including an arched coupling oriented upright with at least one end of the arched coupling being disposed at a lower elevation with respect to a central section of the arched coupling, and including an arcuate projection slidable in an arcuate slot in;

i) a downward and forward direction in which the toe section pivots downward and the heel section simultaneously displaces forward with respect to the attachment member; and

ii) a rearward and upward direction in which the toe section pivots upward and the heel section simultaneously displaces rearward with respect to the attachment member;

d) a tractor bolt, rotatably carried by the foot member;

e) a spool, carried by the attachment member and engageable by the tractor bolt to move relative to the tractor bolt as the tractor bolt rotates; and

f) a motor, coupled to the tractor bolt and capable of rotating the tractor bolt.

24. A device in accordance with claim 23, further comprising:

a controller, selectively providing a drive signal to the motor; and

a level sensor, selectively providing a level signal to the controller.

25. A device in accordance with claim 23, further comprising:

a remote control selectively providing a signal to operate the motor.

26. A device in accordance with claim 23, wherein the foot member is pivotal and displaceable with respect to the attachment member between at least two positions, including:

a) a low position in which the toe section of the foot member is pivoted in an upward direction with respect to the attachment member with the heel section disposed at a lower elevational position, and in which the heel section is disposed in a rearward position; and

b) a high position in which the toe section of the foot member is pivoted in a downward direction with respect to the attachment section with the heel section disposed at a higher elevational position, and in which the heel section is disposed in a forward position.

27. A device in accordance with claim 23, wherein the arcuate slot is formed in the attachment member;

and wherein the arcuate projection extends from the foot member.

28. A device in accordance with claim 27, wherein the arcuate slot has a T-shaped cross-sectional shape;

and wherein the arcuate projection has a T-shaped cross-sectional shape.

29. A device in accordance with claim 23, wherein the arcuate projection includes a concave bearing surface.

30. A method for adjusting a prosthetic foot, comprising the steps of:

a) sensing an orientation of an attachment member configured to be coupled to a socket of an amputee;

b) turning a tractor bolt with a motor based on the orientation of the attachment member to;

i) pivoting a toe section of a foot member in a downward direction with respect to the attachment member so that a heel section of the foot member is disposed at a higher elevational position; and

ii) simultaneously displacing the heel section in a forward direction with respect to the attachment member so that the heel section is disposed at a greater forward position.

31. A method for adjusting a prosthetic foot, comprising the steps of:

a) operating a remote control to send a control signal;

b) turning a tractor bolt with a motor based on the control signal to;

i) pivoting a toe section of a foot member in a downward direction with respect to an attachment member configured to be coupled to a socket of an amputee so that a heel section of the foot member is disposed at a higher elevational position; and

ii) simultaneously displacing the heel section in a forward direction with respect to the attachment member so that the heel section is disposed at a greater forward position.