Prosthetic foot with means for energy storage and release

• US 6,007,582 A
• Filed: 07/25/1997
• Issued: 12/28/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ortho Europe Limited
• Original Assignee: Ortho Europe Limited
• Inventors: May, Denis Ronald William
• Primary Examiner(s): Willse, David H.
• Application Number:
  US08/900,628
• Time in Patent Office: 886 Days
• Field of Search: 623/53-56
• US Class Current: 623/55
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/66 Feet; Ankle joints
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/70 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/74 fluid , i.e. hydraulic or pneumatic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/78 Means for protecting prostheses or for attaching them to the body, e.g. bandages, harnesses, straps, or stockings for the limb stump
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30069 elastomeric
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30131 horseshoe- or crescent- or C-shaped or U-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30364 Rotation about the common longitudinal axis
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30505 spring biased
• 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 2002/502 for adjusting length for implantable joints A61F2002/3055
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/503 for adjusting elasticity, flexibility, spring rate or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5039 allowing only for single rotation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5073 Helical springs, e.g. having at least one helical spring
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5083 modular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/6614 Feet
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/6621 Toes
• 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 2002/6678 L-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/6854 for locking or unlocking a joint
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/704 : computer-controlled, e.g. robotic control
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0025 : Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0033 : made by longitudinally pushing a protrusion into a complementary-shaped recess, e.g. held by friction fit
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0013 : Horseshoe-shaped, e.g. crescent-shaped, C-shaped, U-shaped

Abstract

A prosthetic foot (10) comprising a movable heel mechanism (12), an energy storing device (14) acted on by to the movable heel mechanism (12) to store energy, and a control device (16) attached to the energy storage device (14) and to a release device which enables the stored energy to be released to provide a lift-off force in push-off.

Claims

1. A prosthetic foot comprising a movable heel mechanism, an energy storage means acted on by the movable heel mechanism to store energy, during heel loading, and a control device attached to the energy storage means and to a release device so as to effect release of the stored energy to provide additional lift-off force during toe-off push-off.

2. A prosthetic foot according to claim 1, which further comprises a toe spring which acts as the release device.

3. A prosthetic foot according to claim 1, in which the energy release takes place at a specific event during a gait cycle.

4. A prosthetic foot according to claim 1, in which the control device controls the release of the energy by the energy storage means such that it is dependent upon one or more gait cycle variables.

5. A prosthetic foot according to claim 1, in which the control device can be externally adjusted.

6. A prosthetic foot according to claim 1, in which the control device controls the rate of release of the energy by external adjustment.

7. A prosthetic foot according to claim 1, in which the control device is an automatic clevis type locking mechanism.

8. A prosthetic foot according to claim 1, in which the energy storage means is an elastomer or rubber buffer.

9. A prosthetic foot according to claim 1, in which a predetermined proportion of the energy stored is released at a specific event between heel strike and toe-off.