Prosthetic brake joint

• US 5,755,813 A
• Filed: 03/28/1996
• Issued: 05/26/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: OTTO BOCK Orthopadische Industrie Besitz und Verwaltungs KG
• Original Assignee: OTTO BOCK Orthopaedische Industrie Besitz - und Verwaltungs - KG Industriestrasse
• Inventors: Krukenberg, Manfred
• Primary Examiner(s): Weiss, John G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SNOW, BRUCE EDWARD
• Application Number:
  US08/623,038
• Time in Patent Office: 789 Days
• Field of Search: 623/39, 623/40, 623/43, 623/44, 623/45, 623/46
• US Class Current: 623/44
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/64 Knee joints
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/644 of the single-bar or multi-bar linkage type
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/68 Operating or control means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/74 fluid , i.e. hydraulic or pneumatic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/76 Means for assembling, fitting or testing prostheses, e.g. for measuring or balancing, e.g. alignment means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5032 for adjusting fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5043 with rotation-limiting stops, e.g. projections or recesses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/6818 for braking

Abstract

A prosthetic brake joint includes an upper joint portion, a lower joint portion, and a joint shaft which pivotably connects the two joint portions together. The joint shaft, designed as a brake shaft, is connected to the lower joint portion for fixed rotation with the lower joint portion. A brake bushing surrounds and rotates about the joint shaft and operates as a bearing. The brake bushing is connected to a clamping or support portion for fixed rotation with the clamping or support portion. The upper joint portion is mounted to the clamping or support portion in an articulated manner via a pivot axle. Under loading, the upper joint portion impacts the clamping or support portion and thus the brake bushing, and thereby exerts a braking force on the joint shaft. The brake bushing is surrounded by an annular brake chamber which is filled with an incompressible medium. The annular brake chamber communicates, for purposes of fluid exchange, with a closed hollow space integrated in the clamping or support portion. A pressure piston supports the upper joint portion and protrudes into the closed hollow space to impact the incompressible medium which compresses the brake bushing against the joint shaft to brake rotation of the prosthetic knee joint.

Claims

1. A prosthetic brake joint comprising:

an upper joint portion;

a lower joint portion;

a support portion to which said upper joint portion is mounted;

a pivot axle about which said upper joint portion is pivotal to a limited extent relative to said support portion;

a joint shaft, said lower joint portion being connected to said joint shaft for fixed rotation with said joint shaft, said joint shaft pivotally connecting said upper joint portion and said support portion to said lower joint portion;

a brake bushing surrounding said joint shaft, said brake bushing being rotatable about said joint shaft and serving as a bearing, said support portion being connected to said brake bushing for fixed rotation with said brake bushing

an annular brake chamber surrounding said brake bushing, said annular brake chamber being adapted to be filled with an incompressible medium and communicating, for purposes of fluid exchange, with a closed hollow space integrated in said support portion;

a pressure piston mounted to said support portion and supporting said upper joint portion, said pressure piston protruding into said closed hollow space and adapted to operably impact the incompressible medium; and

a compression sleeve surrounding said brake bushing and adapted so that, when said pressure piston is depressed, pressure is applied to the incompressible medium which is adapted to compress said compression sleeve against said brake bushing and thereby compress said brake bushing against said joint shaft to exert a braking force on said joint shaft.

2. The prosthetic brake joint as claimed in claim 1 wherein said prosthetic brake joint forms a knee brake joint for a leg prothesis.

3. The prosthetic brake joint as claimed in claim 1 wherein said joint shaft performs as a brake shaft.

4. The prosthetic brake joint as claimed in claim 1 wherein said compression sleeve is connected to said brake bushing for fixed rotation with said support portion.

5. The prosthetic brake joint as claimed in claim 4 wherein said brake bushing is anchored in said compression sleeve for fixed rotation with said compression sleeve.

6. The prosthetic brake joint as claimed in claim 4 and further comprising:

an adjusting screw arranged in said support portion and protruding into said closed hollow space.

7. The prosthetic brake joint as claimed in claim 1 wherein said brake bushing is anchored in said compression sleeve for fixed rotation with said compression sleeve.

8. The prosthetic brake joint as claimed in claim 7 and further comprising:

an adjusting screw arranged in said support portion and protruding into said closed hollow space.

9. The prosthetic brake joint as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising:

an adjusting screw arranged in said support portion and protruding into said closed hollow space.