Prosthetic foot
First Claim
Patent Images
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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Accused Products
Abstract
A prosthetic foot formed by one continuous coil spring which has a foot center coil section, a heel extension section, and a forefoot extension section. Lateral and medial and torsional movement are accommodated. Energy is absorbed and stored by the prosthetic foot during heel strike in the gait cycle, energy is transferred to the forefoot extension section during foot roll-forward to toe-off in the gait cycle, and energy is released to provide a propelling force on the prosthetic foot at toe-off in the gait cycle. An apparatus allowing the wearer of the prosthetic foot to feel by physical sensation forces being applied to the prosthetic foot is included in one embodiment.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A foot comprising:
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(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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2. A foot comprising:
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(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, (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, and (e) an elongate shin section extending in a generally vertical direction from said foot center coil section, said shin section comprising a plurality of torsional beams for accommodating torsional movement of said shin section about a longitudinal axis through said shin 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; and 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. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4)
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5. A foot comprising:
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(a) a single foot center coil section having a top and a bottom, (b) a heel extension section extending in a first generally posterior direction from the bottom of said foot center coil section, (c) a forefoot extension section extending in a second generally anterior direction from the bottom of said foot center coil section, said forefoot extension section comprising a plurality of toe extensions, each of said toe extensions being separately articulable from the rest of said toe extensions to enable the foot to accommodate travel over uneven terrain, 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 coil spring to form the foot; wherein said heel extension section serves as a means for absorbing and storing energy at heel strike during the gait cycle; wherein said foot center coil section serves as a means for transferring energy from said heel extension section to said forefoot extension section during the gait cycle; wherein said forefoot extension section serves as a means for releasing stored energy at toe-off during the gait cycle to provide a gait-enhancing propelling force on the foot, and wherein said foot center coil section is adapted to serve as the unitary center of the coil spring in absorbing, storing and releasing energy during the gait cycle. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A coil spring prosthetic foot comprising:
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(a) a foot center coil section having a top and a bottom, said foot center coil section serving to transfer energy from a heel extension section to a forefoot extension section during a gait cycle involving the coil spring prosthetic foot; (b) a heel extension section extending in a first generally posterior direction from said foot center coil section, said heel extension section serving to absorb and store energy at heel strike during a gait cycle involving the coil spring prosthetic foot, and (c) a forefoot extension section extending in a second generally anterior direction from said foot center coil section, said forefoot extension section comprising a plurality of toe extensions, each of said toe extensions being separately articulable from the rest of said toe extensions during a gait cycle involving the coil spring prosthetic foot, and said forefoot extension section serving to release stored energy at toe-off during a gait cycle involving the coil spring prosthetic foot. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A foot consisting essentially of a single, functionally unitary coil spring, said coil spring comprising:
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(a) a foot center coil section having a top and a bottom, (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 forefoot extension section is in the approximate location and orientation of the metatarsal shaft and head of a human foot; wherein said heel extension section is in the approximate location and orientation of the calcaneus of a human foot; 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. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34)
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Specification