Artificial Foot

• US 20080306612A1
• Filed: 12/14/2006
• Published: 12/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ottobock SE & Co. KGaA
• Original Assignee: Otto Bock Healthcare Products GmbH (Albatros Son Holding BV)
• Inventors: Mosler, Luder
• Granted Patent: US 8,317,876 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/55
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/66 Feet; Ankle joints
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5006 Dampers, e.g. hydraulic damper
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5075 Multiple spring systems including two or more helical springs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/6621 Toes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/6635 Metatarsals
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/6642 Heels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/6678 L-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/6685 S-shaped

Abstract

The invention relates to an artificial foot with a connecting part for a lower leg part, a forefoot part which is pivotably connected to the connecting part by means of an upper coupling element and a lower coupling element in such a way that an angular position of the connecting part controls an angular position of the forefoot part, one of the coupling elements extending into a heel area of the foot.

Claims

1. An artificial foot comprising a connecting part configured for connection to a lower leg part, a forefoot part pivotably connected to the connecting part by an upper coupling element and a lower coupling element such that an angular position of the connecting part controls an angular position of the forefoot part, wherein the lower coupling element extends into a heel area of the artificial foot.

2. The artificial foot as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the coupling elements is adjustable in length.

3. The artificial foot as claimed in claim 2, wherein the length-adjustable coupling element is guidable against an increasing elastic counter-force.

4. The artificial foot as claimed in claim 2, wherein the length-adjustable coupling element includes a hydraulic cylinder.

5. The artificial foot as claimed in claim 2, wherein the upper coupling element is adjustable in length.

6. The artificial foot as claimed in claim 1 wherein a damper arrangement is positioned between the connecting part and the lower coupling element in the heel area.

7. The artificial foot as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pivotal connection of the lower coupling element is formed by at least one resilient link.

8. The artificial foot as claimed in claim 7, wherein the lower coupling element bears resiliently on the forefoot part and the connecting part.

9. The artificial foot as claimed in claim 8, wherein the lower coupling element comprises leaf spring elements that bear on the lower coupling element and the forefoot part, and wherein surfaces of the leaf spring elements bear on each other in the heal area.

10. The artificial foot as claimed in claim 1, wherein the movement of the forefoot part relative to the lower coupling part is limited by an interposed resilient stop device.

11. The artificial foot as claimed in claim 1, wherein the damping properties of coupling elements are adjustable as a function of measured loading states or positional states of the foot.