ORTHOPEDIC DEVICE

• US 20100094431A1
• Filed: 12/12/2007
• Published: 04/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ottobock SE & Co. KGaA
• Original Assignee: Otto Bock HealthCare GmbH (OTTO BOCK Holding GmbH & Company KG)
• Inventors: Albrecht-Laatsch, Erik, Carstens, Ralf
• Granted Patent: US 8,202,325 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/644 of the single-bar or multi-bar linkage type
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/6607 Ankle joints
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/70 electrical
• 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 2002/30523 by means of meshing gear teeth
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5039 allowing only for single rotation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5073 Helical springs, e.g. having at least one helical spring
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5078 2-D spiral springs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/6692 circular or loop-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/6818 for braking
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/701 operated by electrically controlled means, e.g. solenoids or torque motors
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0025 Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0102 specially adapted for correcting deformities of the limbs or for supporting them; Ortheses, e.g. with articulations

Abstract

The invention relates to an orthopedic device (1) comprising two components (24, 10; 25, 10; 33, 35) which are mounted so as to be pivotable relative to one another. A generator (90) is provided for generating electric power. Said generator (90) is driven by means of a transmitting mechanism (50) which transmits a relative movement of the two components (24, 10; 25, 10; 33, 35) to each other. An energy store (70) is mounted in front of the generator (90), and the transmitting mechanism (50) allows force to be transmitted only in one direction.

Claims

1. An orthopedic device (1) having two components that are pivotable with respect to one another (24, 10;

25, 20;

33, 35), a generator (90) being arranged on orthopedic device (1) for the generation of electric power and being driven via a transmitting mechanism (50), which transmits a relative movement of the two components (24, 10;

25, 10;

33, 35) with respect to each other, wherein an energy accumulator (70) is connected in series with the generator (90) and the transmitting mechanism (50) allowing a transmission of force only in one direction.

2. The orthopedic device as described in claim 1, wherein it is designed as a prosthesis or orthesis.

3. The orthopedic device as described in claim 1, wherein generator (90) is designed as a direct current or alternating current generator.

4. The orthopedic device as described in claim 1, wherein a gear set (80) is connected in series with the generator (90).

5. The orthopedic device as described in claim 1, wherein a blocking device is provided for the generator (90) that blocks a generation of electrical power until energy accumulator (70) has reached a minimum power level.

6. The orthopedic device as described in claim 1, wherein the energy accumulator (70) is designed as a spring, in particular as a helical spring.

7. The orthopedic device as described in claim 1, wherein the transmitting mechanism (50) has at least one freewheel (670, 680) that blocks one direction of force transmission.

8. The orthopedic device as described in claim 1, wherein the transmitting mechanism (50) has a connecting rod (55) that transmits the relative rotary movement of the two components (24, 10;

25, 10;

33, 35) with respect to each other into a translatory movement.

9. The orthopedic device as described in claim 8, wherein the connecting rod (55) is coupled to the generator (90) via a ratchet mechanism.

10. The orthopedic device as described in claim 1, wherein the transmitting mechanism (50) has a dual gear arrangement (67, 68) with at least one switching device, which produces a transmission of force on a drive shaft (69) only in one direction.

11. The orthopedic device as described in claim 10, wherein the dual gear unit (66, 67, 68) is designed as a bevel gear set, which has an alternately driven bevel drive gear (66) and two bevel driven gears (67, 68), each of which is mounted via a freewheel (670, 680) on a driven shaft (69).

12. The orthopedic device as described in claim 1, wherein the generator (90) is coupled to a battery or capacitor.