Artificial knee with cushion function

• US 20060259153A1
• Filed: 05/13/2005
• Published: 11/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Chang-Yu Mechanical System Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Chang-Yu Mechanical System Ltd.
• Inventors: Harn, Chuen-Sen, Zhen, Rueng-Jie
• Application Number:
  US11/128,850
• Publication Number:
  US 20060259153A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/44
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/644 of the single-bar or multi-bar linkage type
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/74 fluid , i.e. hydraulic or pneumatic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/748 Valve systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5003 having damping means, e.g. shock absorbers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5007 having elastic means different from springs, e.g. including an elastomeric insert
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5009 having two or more elastomeric blocks
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5035 for adjusting volume flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5072 having spring elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/6818 for braking

Abstract

An artificial knee has a supporting portion, a knee portion, and a leg portion. The knee portion has a saddle-like body, a front knee pivotally connected to the saddle-like body and a rear knee. The leg portion has a pneumatic cylinder received in the receiving space in the leg portion. Pivotal movement of the saddle-like body relative to the front knee is able to activate the pneumatic cylinder to provide a cushion effect to a load on top of the supporting portion.

Claims

1. An artificial knee comprising:

a supporting portion adapted for connection to a thigh;

a knee portion having saddle-like body, a front knee pivotally sandwiched between the supporting portion and the saddle-like body and a supporting rod pivotally connected to the supporting portion; and

a brake device received in the knee portion and having an actuator securely connected to the knee portion and having a first through hole defined through the actuator and a slit defined through a periphery of the actuator to communicate with the first through hole and to divide a periphery of the actuator into an upper portion in selective engagement with the supporting portion and a lower portion a core rotatably received in the first through hole such that a load on top of the supporting portion deforms a diameter of the first through hole to lock rotation of the core so as to prevent relative pivotal movement between the saddle-like body and the front knee.

2. The artificial knee as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a wedge adjustably received between the supporting portion and the upper portion of the actuator and a wedge adjusting screw threadingly extended into a rear face of the supporting portion to engage with the wedge so that rotation of the wedge adjusting screw is able to change position of the wedge as to adjust the load on top of the upper portion.

3. The artificial knee as claimed in claim 2 further comprising a resilient element received in the lower portion and a resilient element adjusting screw threadingly connected to a periphery of the lower portion and engaged with an end of the resilient element so that rotation of the resilient element adjusting screw is able to adjust engagement of the other end of the resilient element with the upper portion.

4. The artificial knee as claimed in claim 3 further comprising a friction sleeve received in the first through hole of the actuator to receive therein the core and having a gap corresponding to the slit of the core.

5. An artificial knee comprising:

a supporting portion adapted for connection with a thigh;

a knee portion having a saddle-like body, a front knee and a rear knee, the saddle-like body is pivotally and respectively connected to a respective top of the front knee and the rear knee, a respective bottom of the front knee and the rear knee being pivotally connected to a leg portion so as to form a four-link-rod mechanism imitating the human knee operational track, a supporting rod being pivotally connected to the supporting portion; and

a brake device having an actuator securely connected to and received in the saddle-like body of the knee portion the knee portion and having a first through hole defined through the actuator and a slit defined through a periphery of the actuator to communicate with the first through hole and to divide a periphery of the actuator into an upper portion in selective engagement with the supporting portion and a lower portion a core rotatably received in the first through hole such that a load on top of the supporting portion deforms a diameter of the first through hole to lock rotation of the core so as to prevent relative pivotal movement between the saddle-like body and the front knee.

6. The artificial knee as claimed in claim 5, wherein the leg portion has a receiving space to receive therein a pneumatic cylinder and a connection portion for connection with a limb extension, the pneumatic cylinder having a push rod pivotally connected to the supporting rod and a first adjusting portion mounted to close a bottom opening of the receiving space of the leg portion and having an adjusting block slidably received in the first adjusting portion, a spring received between a piston and the adjusting block and an adjusting screw threadingly extended into the first adjusting portion such that rotation of the adjusting screw is able to move the adjusting block inside the receiving space so as to adjust a recovery force from the spring to the piston of the pneumatic cylinder.

7. The artificial knee as claimed in claim 6 further comprising a wedge adjustably received between the supporting portion and the upper portion of the actuator and a wedge adjusting screw threadingly extended into a rear face of the supporting portion to engage with the wedge so that rotation of the wedge adjusting screw is able to change position of the wedge as to adjust the load on top of the upper portion.

8. The artificial knee as claimed in claim 7 further comprising a resilient element received in the lower portion and a resilient element adjusting screw threadingly connected to a periphery of the lower portion and engaged with an end of the resilient element so that rotation of the resilient element adjusting screw is able to adjust engagement of the other end of the resilient element with the upper portion.

9. The artificial knee as claimed in claim 8 further comprising a friction sleeve received in the first through hole of the actuator to receive therein the core and having a gap corresponding to the slit of the core.

10. The artificial knee as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first adjusting portion has an adjusting screw threadingly extended into the first adjusting portion and having a gear formed on a bottom of the adjusting screw to mate with a threaded rod which has a knob extended outward therefrom such that rotation of the knob is able to drive the threaded rod as well as the gear to rotate, whereby the adjusting screw is moved relative to the first adjusting portion, the position of the adjusting block is also changed such that the recovery force from the spring is adjusted.

11. The artificial knee as claimed in claim 6, wherein the leg portion has a side cover to selectively close a side opening of the leg portion.

12. The artificial knee as claimed in claim 11, wherein the side cover has a second adjusting portion which has a second adjusting screw threadingly connected to the side cover, a second adjusting path and a second adjusting valve, the second adjusting path is selectively communicating with a lower chamber and an upper chamber divided by the piston of the pneumatic cylinder inside the receiving space of the leg portion, so that rotation of the second adjusting screw is able to adjust a cross section area of the second adjusting path allowing air in the lower chamber to flow into the upper chamber and when the saddle-like body is pivoted relative to the supporting portion to allow the supporting rod to press the push rod of the pneumatic cylinder, downward movement of the piston will force the air in the lower chamber to flow into the upper chamber, the air flux flowing from the lower chamber to the upper chamber is adjusted such that the cushion effect provided to the saddle-like body of the knee portion is adjusted.

13. The artificial knee as claimed in claim 12, wherein the front knee is able to pivot relative to the saddle-like body for 28 degrees relative to an axial axis of the supporting portion.

14. The artificial knee as claimed in claim 11, wherein the side cover has a third second adjusting portion which has a third adjusting screw threadingly connected to the side cover, a third adjusting path and a third adjusting valve, the third adjusting path is selectively communicating with a lower chamber and an upper chamber divided by the piston of the pneumatic cylinder inside the receiving space of the leg portion, so that rotation of the third adjusting screw is able to adjust a cross section area of the third adjusting path allowing air in the upper chamber to flow into the lower chamber and when the saddle-like body is pivoted relative to the supporting portion to allow the supporting rod to lift the push rod of the pneumatic cylinder, upward movement of the piston will force the air in the upper chamber to flow into the downward chamber, the air flux flowing from the upper chamber to the lower chamber is adjusted such that the cushion effect provided to the saddle-like body of the knee portion is adjusted.

15. The artificial knee as claimed in claim 12, wherein the side cover has a third second adjusting portion which has a third adjusting screw threadingly connected to the side cover, a third adjusting path and a third adjusting valve, the third adjusting path is selectively communicating with a lower chamber and an upper chamber divided by the piston of the pneumatic cylinder inside the receiving space of the leg portion, so that rotation of the third adjusting screw is able to adjust a cross section area of the third adjusting path allowing air in the upper chamber to flow into the lower chamber and when the saddle-like body is pivoted relative to the supporting portion to allow the supporting rod to lift the push rod of the pneumatic cylinder, upward movement of the piston will force the air in the upper chamber to flow into the downward chamber, the air flux flowing from the upper chamber to the lower chamber is adjusted such that the cushion effect provided to the saddle-like body of the knee portion is adjusted.