Prosthetic foot with tunable performance
First Claim
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1. A lower extremity prosthesis comprising:
- a foot;
an ankle;
a shank;
a posterior calf device to store energy during force loading of the prosthesis and return the stored energy during force unloading to increase the kinetic power generated for propulsive force by the prosthesis in gait;
wherein the posterior calf device includes at least one coiled spring formed monolithically with the shank and having a free end, and at least one elongated member extending between the free end of the at least one coiled spring and a lower portion of the prosthesis, the at least one coiled spring being resiliently uncoiled in response to anterior movement of the upper end of the shank in gait for storing energy.
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Abstract
A lower extremity prosthesis including a foot, an ankle, a shank and a posterior calf device to store energy during force loading of the prosthesis and return the stored energy during force unloading to increase the kinetic power generated for propulsive force by the prosthesis in gait. The posterior calf device includes at least one coiled spring formed monolithically with the shank and having a free end, and at least one elongated member extending between the free end of the at least coiled spring and the lower portion of the prosthesis. The at least one coiled spring is resiliently uncoiled in response to anterior movement of the upper end of the shank in gait for storing energy.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A lower extremity prosthesis comprising:
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a foot;
an ankle;
a shank;
a posterior calf device to store energy during force loading of the prosthesis and return the stored energy during force unloading to increase the kinetic power generated for propulsive force by the prosthesis in gait;
wherein the posterior calf device includes at least one coiled spring formed monolithically with the shank and having a free end, and at least one elongated member extending between the free end of the at least one coiled spring and a lower portion of the prosthesis, the at least one coiled spring being resiliently uncoiled in response to anterior movement of the upper end of the shank in gait for storing energy. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A monolithically formed resilient device for a lower extremity prosthesis, the device comprising portions for forming:
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a foot;
an ankle;
a coupling element securing the ankle to the foot;
a shank connected to the ankle;
wherein the ankle has a reversely curved lower portion which extends upward to the shank by way of an anterior facing convexly curved portion, and wherein the coupling element houses the reversely curved lower portion of the ankle. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. A lower extremity prosthesis comprising:
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a foot;
an ankle;
a shank;
a device including a plurality of springs which store energy during force loading of the prosthesis and return energy during force unloading to increase the kinetic power generated for propulsive force by the prosthesis, wherein in response to progressive force loading on the prosthesis one of the springs engages another of the springs providing progressive resistance to force loading.
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Specification