ACTUATED PROSTHESIS FOR AMPUTESS

• US 20100262260A1
• Filed: 06/14/2010
• Published: 10/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Victhom Human Bionics Inc. (Ergoresearch Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Victhom Human Bionics Inc. (Ergoresearch Ltd.)
• Inventors: Roy, Pierre-Olivier, Bédard, Stéphane
• Granted Patent: US 9,358,137 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/33
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/64 Knee joints
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/644 of the single-bar or multi-bar linkage type
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/66 Feet; Ankle joints
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/6607 Ankle joints
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/70 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/741 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors or solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30359 Pyramidally- or frustopyramidally-shaped protrusion and recess
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5041 having bearing bushes between the rotating parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/607 Lower legs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/6614 Feet
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/6685 S-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/701 operated by electrically controlled means, e.g. solenoids or torque motors
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/704 computer-controlled, e.g. robotic control
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/705 Electromagnetic data transfer
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/762 for measuring dimensions, e.g. a distance
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/7625 for measuring angular position
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/7635 for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/764 for measuring acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0033 made by longitudinally pushing a protrusion into a complementary-shaped recess, e.g. held by friction fit

Abstract

The actuated leg prosthesis comprises a knee member, a socket connector provided over the knee member, an elongated trans-tibial member having a bottom end under which is connected an artificial foot, and a linear actuator. A first pivot assembly allows to operatively connect the trans-tibial member to the knee member. A second pivot assembly allows to operatively connect an upper end of the actuator to the knee member. A third pivot assembly allows to operatively connect a bottom end of the actuator to the bottom end of the trans-tibial member. The prosthesis can be provided as either a front actuator configuration or a rear actuator configuration.

Claims

1. An actuated leg prosthesis for replacement of a leg of an above knee amputee, the prosthesis comprising:

a knee member;

a socket connector assembly for connecting a socket to said knee member;

a trans-tibial member having opposite top and bottom ends spaced apart along a main longitudinal axis;

a connector assembly for connecting an artificial foot to said bottom end of said trans-tibial member;

a first pivot assembly for operatively connecting said top end of said trans-tibial member to said knee member to permit relative rotation between said knee member and said trans-tibialmember about a first pivot axis defined by said pivot assembly; and

a linear actuator comprising a rotary motor, a screw rotatable by said rotary motor and a follower displaceable along said screw upon rotation thereof by said rotary motor, said rotary motor being pivotally connected to said trans-tibial member via a second pivot assembly defining a second pivot axis and said follower being pivotally connected to said knee member at a location spaced from said first pivot assembly and thereby defining a third pivot axis,

wherein said first pivot axis is a prosthetic knee joint, wherein during locomotion, rotation of said rotary motor rotates said screw in or out of said follower thereby causing a corresponding rotation of said knee member relative to said trans-tibial member about said first pivot axis and wherein relative rotation between said knee member and said trans-tibial member is about said first pivot axis only, relative rotation between said linear actuator and said trans-tibial member is about said second pivot axis only, and relative rotation between said linear actuator and said knee member is about said third pivot axis only.