CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A PROSTHETIC KNEE

• US 20140156025A1
• Filed: 11/15/2013
• Published: 06/05/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ossur hf
• Original Assignee: Ossur hf
• Inventors: Bisbee, Charles R. III, Elliott, Scott B., Oddsson, Magnus
• Granted Patent: US 9,345,591 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/64 Knee joints
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/70 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5003 having damping means, e.g. shock absorbers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5004 operated by electro- or magnetorheological fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5033 for adjusting damping
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/6863 magnetic
• 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 2002/7625 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 2250/0034 differing in viscosity

Abstract

A prosthetic or orthotic system including a magnetorheological (MR) damper. The MR damper may be configured to operate in shear mode. In one embodiment, the MR damper includes a rotary MR damper. A controller is configured to operate the damper. A mobile computing device may be adapted to intermittently communicate configuration parameters to the controller. A method of configuring a prosthetic or orthotic system is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A prosthetic knee system, comprising:

a magnetorheological damper operating in shear mode;

a controller configured to operate the damper; and

a mobile computing device adapted to intermittently communicate configuration parameters to the controller.