PROSTHETIC FOOT WITH REMOVABLE FLEXIBLE MEMBERS

• US 20150328020A1
• Filed: 05/05/2015
• Published: 11/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ossur hf
• Original Assignee: Ossur hf
• Inventors: Clausen, Arinbjorn Viggo, Andresson, Bjarni, Lecomte, Christophe Guy, Sveinbjornsdottir, Maria Gudrun, Langlois, David, Gunnarsson, Ragnar Orn, Sandhal, David, Sverrisson, Atli Orn
• Granted Patent: US 10,390,974 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/66 Feet; Ankle joints
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/6607 Ankle joints
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/72 Bioelectric control, e.g. myoelectric
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/74 fluid , i.e. hydraulic or pneumatic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5004 operated by electro- or magnetorheological fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5006 Dampers, e.g. hydraulic damper
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5018 for adjusting angular orientation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/502 for adjusting length for implantable joints A61F2002/3055
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/503 for adjusting elasticity, flexibility, spring rate or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5038 Hinged joint, e.g. with transverse axle restricting the movement for implantable joints A61F2002/30624
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5069 Ball bearings
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5079 Leaf springs A61F2002/6657 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/6614 Feet
• 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 2002/701 operated by electrically controlled means, e.g. solenoids or torque motors
• 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

Abstract

A prosthetic foot can include an attachment member, at least one first brace, at least one first flexible member, an unpowered actuator, at least one second brace, and at least one second flexible member. The attachment member can include a connector configured to connect the attachment member to a user or another prosthetic device. The at least one first brace can mount to the attachment member and the at least one first flexible member can connect to the attachment member by the at least one first brace such that a force between the ground and the attachment member can be supported by the at least one first flexible member. The unpowered actuator can mount to the attachment member and the at least one second brace can mounted to the actuator. The at least one second flexible member can connect to the attachment member by the at least one second brace such that a force between the ground and the attachment member can be supported by the at least one second flexible member.

Claims

1. A prosthetic foot comprising:

an attachment member comprising a connector configured to connect the attachment member to a user or another prosthetic device;

at least one first brace mounted to the attachment member;

at least one first flexible member connected to the attachment member by the at least one first brace such that a force between the ground and the attachment member can be supported by the at least one first flexible member;

an unpowered actuator mounted to the attachment member; and

at least one second brace mounted to the actuator; and

at least one second flexible member connected to the attachment member by the at least one second brace such that a force between the ground and the attachment member can be supported by the at least one second flexible member.

2. The prosthetic foot of claim 1, wherein the first and second flexible members are removably coupled to the first and second braces.

3. The prosthetic foot of claim 1, wherein the actuator is configured to adjust a heel height of the prosthetic foot.

4. The prosthetic foot of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a bottle screw-type adjuster.

10. The prosthetic foot of claim 1, wherein the at least one first brace attaches to the attachment member by a rotatable joint.

11. The prosthetic foot of claim 1, wherein the at least one first brace comprises a slot that receives the flexible member and a divider separating the slot into two halves.

13. The prosthetic foot of claim 1, wherein the at least one second brace attaches to the actuator by a rotatable joint.

14. The prosthetic foot of claim 1, wherein the at least one second brace comprises a slot that receives the flexible member and a divider separating the slot into two halves.

17. The prosthetic foot of claim 1, wherein at least one first flexible member and at least one second flexible member are attached to each other along a foot portion at an adjustable position.

37. The prosthetic foot of claim 1, the prosthetic foot comprising one or more sensors configured to measure data indicative of a rotational position of a joint of the prosthetic foot.

44. The prosthetic foot of claim 1, further comprising one or more accelerometers configured to measure a velocity of the prosthetic foot in one or more directions.

48. The prosthetic foot of claim 1, further comprising one or more gyroscopes configured to measure an angular velocity of the prosthetic foot along one or more axes.

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51. A method of operating a prosthetic foot comprising:

measuring at least a rotational position of a joint of the prosthetic foot with one or more sensors on the prosthetic foot configured to measure a heel load and toe load on the prosthetic foot to indicate said rotational position;

detecting a change of walking pattern from at least the measured rotational position; and

adjusting an actuator on the prosthetic foot to operate according to the detected change of walking pattern.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein the actuator is configured to operate according to level-ground walking when the one or more sensors indicate plantarflexion in pre-mid-stance and a gradual transition to dorsiflexion in post-mid-stance.

53. The method of claim 51, wherein the actuator is configured to operate according to stair-ascent when the one or more sensors indicate dorsiflexion throughout substantially all of stance with two peaks in each stance phase.

54. The method of claim 51, wherein the actuator is configured to operate according to stair-descent when the one or more sensors indicate dorsiflexion throughout substantially all of stance with a single peak in each stance phase.

55. The method of claim 51, wherein the actuator is configured to operate according to ramp-ascent when the one or more sensors indicate plantarflexion early in stance, with a slowing in weight-shift toward dorsiflexion during mid-stance.

56. The method of claim 51, wherein the actuator is configured to operate according to ramp-descent when the one or more sensors indicate plantarflexion early in stance, with a faster shift toward dorsiflexion during mid-stance.

58. The method of claim 51, wherein the actuator is configured to transition from operating according to level-ground walking to stair-ascent when the foot moves in an upward direction at mid-swing.

59. The method of claim 51, wherein the actuator is configured to transition from operating according to stair-ascent to level-ground walking when the foot moves in a downward direction at mid-swing.

60. The method of claim 51, wherein the actuator is configured to transition from operating according to a relaxed and sitting position to a sitting-exit mode when the foot moves in a backward direction.

61. The method of claim 51, wherein the actuator is configured to transition from operating according to a relaxed and sitting position to a sitting-exit mode when the foot moves backward into a dorsiflexed position.

62. The method of claim 51, wherein the actuator is configured to transition from operating according to stair-ascent to one of either operating according to level-ground walking or setting the joint angle to zero when the angular velocity of the prosthetic foot in the coronal or transverse plane is relatively large compared to the angular velocity of the prosthetic foot in the sagittal plane, thus indicating a change of direction.

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