Prosthetic knee joint
First Claim
1. A prosthetic knee joint for an artificial leg comprising:
- a tibial member having at least one tibial bearing surface, said at least one tibial bearing surface having a first arcuate configuration,a femoral member being movable relative to said tibial member and having at least one femoral bearing surface, said at least one tibial bearing surface having a second arcuate configuration supportingly engaging said at least one femoral bearing surface;
rolling contact means for establishing rolling contact between said at least one femoral bearing surface and said at least one tibial bearing surface substantially along the entire length of said tibial bearing surface while preventing substantial sliding movement between said tibial bearing surface and said femoral bearing surface; and
engagement means for preventing disengagement of said at least one femoral bearing surface and said at least one tibial surface during rolling movement therebetween.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A prosthetic knee joint having a femoral member and a tibial member each of which is provided with a bearing surface. The bearing surface of the tibial member supports the bearing surface associated with the femoral member such that flexion between the tibial member and the femoral member causes the respective bearing surfaces to roll relative to one another. Rollers, cam surfaces and guide slots are provided to ensure the retention of the proper relationship for this rolling contact between the tibial bearing surface and the femoral bearing surface. The knee joint includes a mechanical brake which produces a brake force that increased with flexure between the tibial member and the femoral member. The brake includes a resilient deformable element which transmits a brake applying force to a brake shoe which is operable along an axis generally perpendicular to the direction in which the force is applied. Hyperextension of the knee joint is mechanically limited and a torsion rod accommodates torsional motion between the knee joint and a lower leg to which it may be attached. The knee joint also includes a member which simulates the movement of the patella bone of a human knee.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A prosthetic knee joint for an artificial leg comprising:
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a tibial member having at least one tibial bearing surface, said at least one tibial bearing surface having a first arcuate configuration, a femoral member being movable relative to said tibial member and having at least one femoral bearing surface, said at least one tibial bearing surface having a second arcuate configuration supportingly engaging said at least one femoral bearing surface; rolling contact means for establishing rolling contact between said at least one femoral bearing surface and said at least one tibial bearing surface substantially along the entire length of said tibial bearing surface while preventing substantial sliding movement between said tibial bearing surface and said femoral bearing surface; and engagement means for preventing disengagement of said at least one femoral bearing surface and said at least one tibial surface during rolling movement therebetween. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. In a prosthetic knee joint having a femoral member and a tibial member mounted for relative movement wherein the improvement comprises:
means for simulating a patella, said means for simulating pivotally connected to said femoral member and pivotally connected to said tibial member and said means for simulating a patella includes at least one patellar member pivotally connected to said tibial member, and at least one patellar link having one end pivotally connected to said femoral member and another end pivotally connected to said patellar member, whereby said at least one patellar member moves in response to relative movement between said femoral member and said tibial member.
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8. In a prosthetic knee joint having a femoral member and a tibial member mounted for relative movement wherein the improvement comprises:
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means for simulating a patella, said means for simulating pivotally connected to said femoral member and pivotally connected to said tibial member; at least one patellar member pivotally connected to said tibial member; at least one patellar link having one end pivotally connected to said femoral member and another end pivotally connected to said patellar member, whereby said at least one patellar member moves in response to relative movement between said femoral member and said tibial member; wherein said at least one patellar member is pivotally connected to an anterior portion of said tibial member; and wherein said at least one patellar link is pivotally connected to a posterior portion of said femoral member.
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9. A prosthetic knee joint having a pair of relatively movable members wherein the improvement comprises:
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a brake drum provided for one of said pair of members and having opposed braking surfaces; resilient brake shoe means carried by the second of said pair of members and having a longitudinal member with spaced ends positioned adjacent the braking surfaces, the longitudinal member being operable to increase spacing between said ends in response to a transverse squeezing force so that the resilient brake shoe means is operable to frictionally engage said brake drum; means for selectively applying a transverse squeezing force to said longitudinal member, said means for applying force carried by the second of said pair of members, whereby said resilient brake shoe means engages said brake drum to resist relative movement between said pair of relatively movable members. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A prosthetic knee joint having a pair of relatively movable members wherein the improvement comprises:
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a brake drum provided for one of said pair of members; brake shoe means for frictionally engaging said brake drum, said brake shoe means carried by the second of said pair of members; means for selectively applying force to said brake shoe means, said means for applying force carried by the second of said pair of members; whereby said brake shoe means engages said brake drum to resist relative movement between said pair of relatively movable members; wherein said brake shoe means includes a deformable resilient element having at least one end and having at least one brake shoe connected to said at least one end of said deformable resilient element; wherein said means for selectively applying force selectively engages said deformable resilient element which transmits an applied force to said at least one brake shoe; said at least one brake shoe fabricated from brake shoe material; and said deformable resilient element disposed within a cylindrical member having an opening in the cylindrical surface thereof to receive said plunger.
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13. A proportional brake for a prosthetic knee joint comprising:
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a prosthetic knee joint which includes a pair of relatively movable members that contact one another at a pivot axis, said pivot axis moving posteriorly of said knee joint when said knee joint is flexed and moving anteriorly of said knee joint when said knee joint is extended; brake means for resisting flexure of said knee joint, said brake means connected to said knee joint anteriorly thereof; and means for selectively operating said brake means, said means for selectively operating being carried by one of said pair of relatively movable members, whereby a force moment tending to flex said prosthetic knee joint is resisted by a braking force moment which increases with flexure of said knee joint due to posterior movement of said pivot axis away from said anteriorly positioned brake means. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A prosthetic knee joint for an artificial leg comprising:
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a tibial member having at least one tibial bearing surface, said at least one tibial bearing surface having a first arcuate configuration; a femoral member being movable relative to said tibial member and having at least one femoral bearing surface, said at least one femoral bearing surface having a second arcuate configuration, said at least one tibial bearing surface supportingly engaging said at least one femoral bearing surface; a first means for establishing rolling contact between said at least one femoral bearing surface and said at least one tibial bearing surface substantially along the length of each said bearing surface; a second means for preventing disengagement of said at least one femoral bearing surface and said at least one tibial bearing surface; means for simulating a patella, said means for simulating being connected to said femoral member and to said tibial member; brake means for resisting relative movement between said tibial member and said femoral member, said brake means attached anteriorly to said tibial member and said femoral member; and means for selectively operating said brake means, said means for selectively operating carried by said femoral member.
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19. In a prosthetic leg for an above-knee amputee having a femoral member operable for attachment to the amputee'"'"'s thigh for pivotal movement about a point generally coinciding with the amputee'"'"'s hip joint, a tibial member with pivotal movement about a prosthetic ankle, a distance defined between said point and said prosthetic ankle, and an angle defined between said femoral member and said tibial member, wherein the improvement comprises:
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femoral bearing surface having a first contour; a tibial bearing surface having a second contour which contacts said femoral bearing surface such that said first contour touches said second contour at an instantaneous axis of rotation; said angle having a first predetermined value when said femoral member and said tibial member are aligned such that said distance has a first minimum value; and said first contour and said second contour cooperate to increase said distance when said angle increases, said instantaneous axis of rotation movable posteriorly when said angle increases; whereby a toggle action is effected to generate stability about said first predetermined value. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. A method of walking with a prosthetic knee joint comprising the steps of:
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flexing the knee joint with a first range defined between a first predetermined angle and a second predetermined angle which exceeds the first predetermined angle, thereby raising a hip joint of an amputee; flexing the knee joint within a second range defined between the second predetermined angle and a third predetermined angle which exceeds the second predetermined angle, thereby lowering the hip joint; and flexing said knee joint through the second range in which the articulation angle exceeds said second predetermined value, thereby establishing a hinged movement. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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24. A prosthetic joint connecting members for relative movement, said joint comprising:
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an upper member having means for attachment to an amputee; a lower member having a prosthetic member connected thereto; means for swinging lower member relative to said upper member; and means for rotating said lower member about its longitudinal axis relative to said upper member, being positioned between said lower member and said means for swinging, and having a torsion rod connected at one end to said means for swinging and connected at the other end to said lower member. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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28. A prosthetic knee joint comprising:
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a tibial member having at least one tibial bearing surface, said at least one tibial bearing surface having a first arcuate configuration, a femoral member being movable relative to said tibial member and having at least one femoral bearing surface, said at least one femoral bearing surface having a second arcuate configuration, said at least one tibial bearing surface supportingly engaging said at least one femoral bearing surface; rolling contact means for establishing rolling contact between said at least one femoral bearing surface and said at least one tibial surface; and engagement means for preventing disengagement of said at least one femoral bearing surface and said at least one tibial bearing surface, said engagement means including a pin connected to one of said tibial member and said femoral member, and the other of said tibial member and said femoral member being provided with a slot for receiving said pin while allowing said pin to move during articulation of the prosthetic knee joint. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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30. A prosthetic knee joint comprising:
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a femoral member having a convex femoral bearing surface and a generally planar upper surface; a tibial member having a concave tibial bearing surface and a generally planar lower surface; hypocycloidal means for establishing hypocyloidal motion between said femoral bearing surface and said tibial bearing surface throughout a first range of articulation angles where the articulation angle is defined as one of the intersecting angles between a line normal to the upper surface and a line normal to the lower surface; and pivot means for establishing pivotal motion between said femoral member and said tibial member throughout a second range of articulation angles. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification