Adjustable prosthesis joint

• US 5,957,981 A
• Filed: 10/15/1997
• Issued: 09/28/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gramtec Innovation AB
• Original Assignee: Gramtec Innovation AB
• Inventors: Gramnas, Finn
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu, Mickey
• Assistant Examiner(s): STEWART, ALVIN J
• Application Number:
  US08/860,817
• Time in Patent Office: 713 Days
• Field of Search: 623/21, 623/36, 623/37, 623/40, 623/42, 623/43, 623/44, 623/46, 623/50, 623/52, 623/55, 623/47
• US Class Current: 623/47
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/6607 Ankle joints
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/74 fluid , i.e. hydraulic or pneumatic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/748 Valve systems
• 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 2002/30069 elastomeric
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30433 using additional screws, bolts, dowels, rivets or washers e.g. connecting screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5003 having damping means, e.g. shock absorbers for implantable joints A61F2002/30563
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5006 Dampers, e.g. hydraulic damper
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5007 having elastic means different from springs, e.g. including an elastomeric insert elastic coating A61F2002/3007; springs A61F2002/5072; plate-like springs for feet A61F2002/6657
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5009 having two or more elastomeric blocks
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5012 having two or more inflatable pockets
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5018 for adjusting angular orientation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5043 with rotation-limiting stops, e.g. projections or recesses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5055 Reinforcing prostheses by embedding particles or fibres during moulding or dipping, e.g. carbon fibre composites
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/6614 Feet
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/6642 Heels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/6657 having a plate-like or strip-like spring element, e.g. an energy-storing cantilever spring keel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0041 using additional screws, bolts, dowels or rivets, e.g. connecting screws

Abstract

An adjustable prosthesis joint, such as a prosthesis ankle or a prosthesis foot, and intended primarily for causing setting of the angular relation between an attachment means (4) forming part thereof for affixing the prosthesis joint (1) to a cooperating body part, and a detail (17) being angularly displaceably connected thereto, whereby the prosthesis joint is provided with means adapted to be actuatable to permit or to prevent such angular displacement, respectively, whereby said means is constituted by two communicating chambers (3a, 3b) containing a flow medium, with a shiftable valve (13) provided between the chambers, and at least one body designed as a piston (8, 9), rotatably arranged in relation to said chambers and movably arranged therein and adapted to permit flow of flow medium between the two chambers, when the valve is open and under influence of an external shifting force being displaced in said chambers (3a, 3b) in order to alter the relative sizes thereof.

Claims

1. An adjustable prosthesis joint to set the angular relation between an attachment socket for connecting the joint to a cooperating body member and a prosthesis detail, the prosthesis joint comprising:

a housing;

a chamber disposed in the housing;

an intermediate wall fixed within the chamber to subdivide the chamber into at least two communicating chamber portions;

an adjustable valve provided in a valve housing in connection to the wall, wherein the adjustable valve is movable between a closed position and an open position;

a flow medium to communicate between the chamber portions through the valve;

at least two pistons wherein each piston is movably disposed in one of the two chamber portions and the pistons are interconnected to and are adapted to be uniformly displaced in relation to the wall under flow of the flow medium through the valve in the open position between the chambers.

2. The adjustable prosthesis joint according to claim 1 further comprising a means to attach the joint to an artificial foot.

3. The adjustable prosthesis joint according to claim 1 wherein the position of the pistons is secured relative to the wall when the valve is in the closed position.

4. The adjustable prosthesis joint according to claim 1 wherein the cross-section of the chamber is curved so that the wall subdivides the chamber into two cylindrical curved chamber portions.