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Prosthetic ankle joint for pivotally connecting a residual limb to a prosthetic foot

  • US 5,571,212 A
  • Filed: 01/10/1995
  • Issued: 11/05/1996
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/10/1995
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A prosthetic ankle joint, comprising:

  • a first joint structure having a first attachment member attachable to one of either a pylon or a prosthetic foot to receive a force therefrom acting at a first location on the first attachment member, the first joint structure having first and second spaced apart fins each of which substantially lie in a sagital plane;

    a second joint structure having a second attachment member attachable to the other of either a pylon or a prosthetic foot to receive a force therefrom acting at a second location on the second attachment member, the second joint structure having a lateral restraining member positioned between the first and second fins;

    a spherical bearing interconnecting the first joint structure and the second joint structure so that the first and second joint structures pivot with respect to each other in dorsiflexion, plantar flexion, coronal rotation, and transverse rotation;

    the pivot point of the spherical bearing being offset from the first and second locations in a direction lying in transverse and sagital planes so that a compressive ;

    force applied between the first and second locations imparts a dorsiflexal or plantar flexal torque about the pivot axis;

    a dorsiflexion cushion positioned between the first and second joint structures at a location causing the dorsiflexion cushion to be compressed during dorsiflexal pivotal movement of the ankle joint;

    a plantar flexion cushion positioned between the first and second joint structures at a location causing the plantar flexion cushion to be compressed during plantar flexal pivotal movement of the ankle joint; and

    a lateral cushion positioned between the lateral restraining member and each of the first and second fins so that the lateral cushions are compressed during coronal rotation and transverse rotation pivotal movement of the ankle joint in opposite directions.

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