PROSTHETIC FOOT

• US 20100042228A1
• Filed: 08/18/2008
• Published: 02/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Willowood Global, LLC
• Original Assignee: Ohio Willow Wood Company
• Inventors: Flora, Charles R., Nolt, Lonnie L., Colvin, James M., Doddroe, Jeffrey L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,317,877 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/55
• 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 2002/30359 Pyramidally- or frustopyramidally-shaped protrusion and recess
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30395 with additional means for preventing or locking said rotation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30433 using additional screws, bolts, dowels, rivets or washers e.g. connecting screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30492 using a locking pin
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30507 using a threaded locking member, e.g. a locking screw or a set screw
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5003 having damping means, e.g. shock absorbers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5009 having two or more elastomeric blocks
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/503 for adjusting elasticity, flexibility, spring rate or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5083 modular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/6614 Feet
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/6621 Toes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/6642 Heels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/665 Soles
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/6657 having a plate-like or strip-like spring element, e.g. an energy-storing cantilever spring keel
• 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 2220/0025 : 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

Abstract

A stable shock absorbing prosthetic foot that transfers energy between heel strike and toe-off. A toe plate is separated from one or more other plates by a bumper assembly located at each of the toe end and heel end of the foot. Certain embodiments of the shock absorbing foot of the present invention are designed for use with a prosthetic ankle. A torsion adapter may also be used to attach a prosthetic foot of the present invention to the remainder of a prosthesis.

Claims

1. A prosthetic foot, comprising:

a shank having a substantially vertical portion graduating into a curved foot portion;

a foot plate;

a heel plate extending rearward from said shank;

a toe bumper assembly connecting a toe end of said shank to a toe end of said foot plate; and

a heel bumper assembly connecting a rearward end of said heel plate to a heel end of said toe plate;

wherein said shank and said heel plate are held in a suspended position above said foot plate.

2. The prosthetic foot of claim 1, wherein said heel plate is connected to an underside of said foot portion of said shank.

3. The prosthetic foot of claim 1, wherein said heel plate is connected to said shank near a transition point between said substantially vertical portion and said curved foot portion.

4. The prosthetic foot of claim 3, wherein said heel plate includes a substantially vertical leg that mimics the curve at said transition point of said shank.

5. The prosthetic foot of claim 1, wherein a heel portion and toe portion of said foot plate are curved.

6. The prosthetic foot of claim 5, wherein a curvature of said heel plate substantially mimics the curvature of said heel portion of said foot plate.

7. The prosthetic foot of claim 1, wherein each bumper assembly includes an elastomeric element that acts to absorb shock and return energy to an amputee'"'"'s gait during loading and unloading of said prosthetic foot.

8. The prosthetic foot of claim 1, wherein said foot plate acts as a hard stop to downward deflection of said shank and said heel plate during loading of said prosthetic foot.

9. The prosthetic foot of claim 1, further comprising an elastomeric element located between an underside of said shank and a top surface of said heel plate.

10. The prosthetic foot of claim 1, wherein said toe bumper assembly includes separate sleeve and snubber elements, said snubber element residing between said foot plate and said shank, and said sleeve element passing through a mounting hole in said shank and into a bore in said snubber.

11. The prosthetic foot of claim 10, wherein one or both of said sleeve and snubber elements is comprised of an elastomeric material.

12. The prosthetic foot of claim 10, further comprising a T-nut passing through a mounting hole in said foot plate and a threaded fastener passing through a bore in said sleeve element, said threaded fastener engaging a like threaded section of said T-nut to secure said foot plate to said shank.

13. The prosthetic foot of claim 1, wherein said heel bumper assembly includes separate sleeve and snubber elements, said snubber element residing between said foot plate and said heel plate, and said sleeve element passing through a mounting hole in said heel plate and into a bore in said snubber.

14. The prosthetic foot of claim 13, wherein one or both of said sleeve and snubber elements is comprised of an elastomeric material.

15. The prosthetic foot of claim 13, further comprising a T-nut passing through a mounting hole in said foot plate and a threaded fastener passing through a bore in said sleeve element, said threaded fastener engaging a like threaded section of said T-nut to secure said foot plate to said heel plate.

16. The prosthetic foot of claim 1, further comprising a torsion adapter attached to said substantially vertical portion of said shank, said torsion adapter for connecting said prosthetic foot to the remainder of a prosthesis.

17. The prosthetic foot of claim 16, wherein said torsion adapter includes a pyramid receiver.

18. The prosthetic foot of claim 16, wherein said torsion adapter includes a pyramid.

19. A prosthetic foot, comprising:

a shank having a substantially vertical portion graduating into a curved foot portion;

a foot plate having a curved heel and toe portion;

a heel plate extending rearward from an underside of said foot portion of said shank;

a toe bumper assembly connecting a toe end of said shank to a toe end of said foot plate, each toe bumper assembly including a sleeve, elastomeric snubber, and T-nut, said snubber residing between said foot plate and said shank, said sleeve element passing through a mounting hole in said shank and into a bore in said snubber, and said T-nut passing through a mounting hole in said foot plate, such that a threaded fastener is passed through a bore in said sleeve to engage a like-threaded section of said T-nut to secure said foot plate to said shank;

a heel bumper assembly connecting a rearward end of said heel plate to a heel end of said toe plate, each heel bumper assembly including a sleeve, elastomeric snubber, and T-nut, said snubber residing between said foot plate and said heel plate, said sleeve element passing through a mounting hole in said heel plate and into a bore in said snubber, and said T-nut passing through a mounting hole in said foot plate, such that a threaded fastener is passed through a bore in said sleeve to engage a like-threaded section of said T-nut to secure said foot plate to said heel plate;

wherein said shank and said heel plate are held in a suspended position above said foot plate by said bumper assemblies.

20. The prosthetic foot of claim 19, wherein a curvature of said heel plate substantially mimics the curvature of said heel portion of said foot plate.

21. The prosthetic foot of claim 19, wherein said foot plate acts as a hard stop to downward deflection of said shank and said heel plate during loading of said prosthetic foot.

22. The prosthetic foot of claim 19, further comprising an elastomeric element located between an underside of said shank and a top surface of said heel plate.

23. The prosthetic foot of claim 19, wherein at least one sleeve is comprised of an elastomeric material.

24. The prosthetic foot of claim 19, further comprising a torsion adapter attached to said substantially vertical portion of said shank, said torsion adapter for connecting said prosthetic foot to the remainder of a prosthesis.

25. The prosthetic foot of claim 24, wherein said torsion adapter includes a pyramid receiver.

26. The prosthetic foot of claim 24, wherein said torsion adapter includes a pyramid.

27. A low-profile prosthetic foot, comprising:

a shank having a foot portion graduating into an upwardly curving ankle mounting portion, the terminus of said ankle mounting portion corresponding to about the height of a typical human ankle;

a foot plate;

a heel plate extending rearward from an underside of said shank;

a toe bumper assembly connecting a toe end of said shank to a toe end of said foot plate; and

a heel bumper assembly connecting a rearward end of said heel plate to a heel end of said toe plate;

wherein said shank and said heel plate are held in a suspended position above said foot plate.

28. The low-profile prosthetic foot of claim 27, wherein a heel portion and toe portion of said foot plate are curved.

29. The low-profile prosthetic foot of claim 27, wherein a curvature of said heel plate substantially mimics the curvature of said heel portion of said foot plate.

30. The prosthetic foot of claim 27, wherein each bumper assembly includes an elastomeric element that acts to absorb shock and return energy to an amputee'"'"'s gait during loading and unloading of said prosthetic foot.

31. The prosthetic foot of claim 27, wherein said toe bumper assembly includes separate sleeve and elastomeric snubber elements, said snubber element residing between said foot plate and said shank, and said sleeve element passing through a mounting hole in said shank and into a bore in said snubber.

32. The prosthetic foot of claim 27, wherein said heel bumper assembly includes sleeve and elastomeric snubber elements, said snubber element residing between said foot plate and said heel plate, and said sleeve element passing through a mounting hole in said heel plate and into a bore in said snubber.

33. An ultra low-profile prosthetic foot, comprising:

a curvilinear but substantially horizontal shank;

a subjacent foot plate, the curvature of which substantially mimics that of the shank;

a toe bumper assembly connecting a toe end of said shank to a toe end of said foot plate; and

a heel bumper assembly connecting a rearward end of said heel plate to a heel end of said toe plate;

wherein said shank is held in a suspended position above said foot plate by said bumper assemblies.

34. The ultra low-profile prosthetic foot of claim 33, wherein each bumper assembly includes an elastomeric element that acts to absorb shock and return energy to an amputee'"'"'s gait during loading and unloading of said prosthetic foot.

35. The ultra low-profile prosthetic foot of claim 33, wherein said toe bumper assembly includes sleeve and elastomeric snubber elements, said snubber element residing between said foot plate and said shank, and said sleeve element passing through a mounting hole in said shank and into a bore in said snubber.

36. The ultra low-profile prosthetic foot of claim 33, wherein said heel bumper assembly includes separate sleeve and elastomeric snubber elements, said snubber element residing between said foot plate and said heel plate, and said sleeve element passing through a mounting hole in said heel plate and into a bore in said snubber.

37. The ultra low-profile prosthetic foot of claim 33, wherein said shank is adapted to receive a prosthetic ankle.