Prosthetic foot with a resilient ankle

• US 20050203640A1
• Filed: 04/18/2005
• Published: 09/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Freedom Innovations LLC (Ottobock SE & Co. KGaA)
• Original Assignee: Freedom Innovations LLC (Ottobock SE & Co. KGaA)
• Inventors: Christensen, Roland J.
• Application Number:
  US11/109,320
• Publication Number:
  US 20050203640A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/52
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/66 Feet; Ankle joints
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/6607 Ankle joints
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/76 Means for assembling, fitting or testing prostheses, e.g. for measuring or balancing, e.g. alignment means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30433 using additional screws, bolts, dowels, rivets or washers e.g. connecting screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5003 having damping means, e.g. shock absorbers
• 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 2002/6671 C-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/6678 L-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/6685 S-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0041 using additional screws, bolts, dowels or rivets, e.g. connecting screws

Abstract

A prosthetic foot device includes an elongated upper forefoot portion and a shock absorbing ankle portion. The forefoot portion can extend from an upper attachment section, downwardly through an ankle section, forwardly through an arch section, and to a toe section. The ankle portions can include at least two substantially straight sections including a first section extending downwardly and forwardly under the ankle section of the forefoot portion, and a second section extending downwardly and rearwardly to a heel section positioned at a heel location of a natural heel.

Claims

1. A prosthetic foot device, comprising:

a) an elongated forefoot portion extending

     1) from an upper attachment section configured to be coupled to a limb of an amputee,

     2) downwardly through an ankle section substantially positioned at an ankle location of a natural foot,

     3) forwardly through an arch section, and

     4) to a toe section positioned at a toe location of a natural foot; and

b) an elongated ankle portion, extending

     1) downwardly and forwardly under the forefoot portion, and

     2) downwardly and rearwardly to a heel section positioned at a heel location of a natural heel.

2. A prosthetic foot device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the ankle portion forms a resilient spring member to absorb shock and cushion to the forefoot portion, and includes at least two substantially straight sections that are formed of a composite material with fiber in a resin matrix and are flexible to store energy and resilient to return energy.

3. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the forefoot portion and the ankle portion are flexible to store energy and resilient to return energy.

4. A device in accordance with claim 3, wherein the forefoot portion and the ankle portion include a composite material with fiber in a resin matrix.

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

a lower footplate, disposed under the forefoot and ankle portions, and extending between a heel section positioned at the heel location of the natural heel and a toe section positioned at the toe location of the natural foot.

6. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the forefoot portion includes at least two laterally separated and adjacent forefoot portions.

7. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the upper attachment section of the upper forefoot portion is disposed at an oblique angle.

8. A device in accordance with claim 7, further comprising:

an attachment member, configured to be coupled to a limb of an amputee, having a lower oblique surface; and

wherein the upper attachment section of the forefoot portion is attached to the lower oblique surface of the attachment member.

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

a reinforcement member having an attachment section configured to be coupled to the limb of the amputee and a heel section positioned above the heel section of the ankle portion.

10. A prosthetic foot device, comprising:

a) an elongated forefoot portion extending

     1) from an upper attachment section configured to be coupled to a limb of an amputee,

     2) downwardly through an ankle section substantially positioned at an ankle location of a natural foot,

     3) forwardly through an arch section, and

     4) to a toe section positioned at a toe location of a natural foot; and

b) an elongated ankle portion including at least two substantially straight sections including

     1) a first section extending downwardly and forwardly under the forefoot portion, and

     2) a second section extending downwardly and rearwardly to a heel section positioned at a heel location of a natural heel; and

c) the ankle portion forming a resilient spring member to absorb shock and cushion to the forefoot portion, and being formed of a composite material with fiber in a resin matrix.

11. A device in accordance with claim 10, wherein the forefoot portion is flexible to store energy and resilient to return energy.

12. A device in accordance with claim 11, wherein the forefoot portion includes a composite material with fiber in a resin matrix.

13. A device in accordance with claim 10, further comprising:

a lower footplate, disposed under the forefoot and ankle portions, and extending between a heel section positioned at the heel location of the natural heel and a toe section positioned at the toe location of the natural foot.

14. A device in accordance with claim 10, wherein the forefoot portion includes at least two laterally separated and adjacent forefoot portions.

15. A device in accordance with claim 10, wherein the upper attachment section of the upper forefoot portion is disposed at an oblique angle.

16. A device in accordance with claim 10, further comprising:

a reinforcement member having an attachment section configured to be coupled to the limb of the amputee and a heel section positioned above the heel section of the ankle portion.

17. A prosthetic foot device, comprising:

a) an elongated forefoot portion extending

     1) from an upper attachment section configured to be coupled to a limb of an amputee,

     2) downwardly through an ankle section substantially positioned at an ankle location of a natural foot,

     3) forwardly through an arch section, and

     4) to a toe section positioned at a toe location of a natural foot; and

b) a shock absorbing ankle portion positioned under the forefoot portion, including at least two substantially straight sections, the substantially straight sections including a first section extending downwardly and forwardly underneath the forefoot member, and a second section extending downwardly and rearwardly underneath the first section to a heel section positioned at a heel location of a natural heel.

18. A device in accordance with claim 17, wherein the ankle portion further includes a curved section interconnecting the at least two substantially straight sections.

19. A device in accordance with claim 17, wherein the forefoot portion is flexible to store energy and resilient to return energy.

20. A device in accordance with claim 19, wherein the forefoot portion includes a composite material with fiber in a resin matrix.