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Prosthetic foot

  • US 5,571,213 A
  • Filed: 08/19/1994
  • Issued: 11/05/1996
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1992
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A foot comprising:

  • (a) a single foot center coil section having a top and a bottom, said foot center coil section comprising an anterior coil spring section and a posterior coil spring section,(b) a heel extension section extending in a first generally posterior direction from said foot center coil section,(c) a forefoot extension section extending in a second generally anterior direction from said foot center coil section, and(d) an arch formed at the approximate bottom of said foot center coil section by obtuse angular orientation of said forefoot extension section with respect to said heel extension section;

    wherein said foot center coil section, heel extension section, and forefoot extension section constitute a unitary coil spring to form the foot;

    wherein said heel extension section is adapted to absorb and store energy at heel strike during the gait cycle;

    wherein said foot center coil section is adapted to transfer energy stored during heel strike to said forefoot extension section during foot roll-forward of the gait cycle;

    wherein said forefoot extension section is adapted to release stored energy at toe-off during the gait cycle;

    wherein said foot center coil section is adapted to serve as the functional center of the foot in absorbing, storing and releasing energy during the gait cycle;

    wherein said forefoot extension section comprises a plurality of toe extensions, each of said toe extensions being separately articulable from the rest of said toe extensions;

    wherein said heel extension section comprises at least one heel extension;

    wherein at the location of said arch, two of said toe extensions form a gap therebetween through which said heel extension protrudes; and

    wherein when a vertical load is exerted on the foot, movement of said forefoot extension section and said heel extension section with respect to said foot center coil section increases the obtuse angle formed by the orientation of said heel extension section with respect to said forefoot extension section thereby permitting said foot to experience a vertical displacement in response to said load, and said movement also causing said heel extension to move in said gap without any restriction from said toe extensions.

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