Prosthetic foot assembly having improved resilient cushions and components

• US 6,129,766 A
• Filed: 05/29/1998
• Issued: 10/10/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: College Park Industries, Inc. (Ossur hf)
• Original Assignee: College Park Industries, Inc. (Ossur hf)
• Inventors: Johnson, Christopher Lyle, Robinson, Eric Lloyd
• Primary Examiner(s): Willse, David H.
• Application Number:
  US09/087,010
• Time in Patent Office: 865 Days
• Field of Search: 623/27, 623/38, 623/47-56
• US Class Current: 623/49
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/66 Feet; Ankle joints
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/6607 Ankle joints
• 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 2002/30065 thermoplastic, i.e. softening or fusing when heated, and hardening and becoming rigid again when cooled
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30069 elastomeric
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30112 Rounded shapes, e.g. with rounded corners
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30113 circular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30125 elliptical or oval
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3013 figure-"8"- or hourglass-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30153 rectangular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30154 square
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30158 trapezoidal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30215 Stepped cones, i.e. having discrete diameter changes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30233 Stepped cylinders, i.e. having discrete diameter changes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30276 frustopyramidal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30327 differing in diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30405 made by screwing complementary threads machined on the parts themselves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30433 using additional screws, bolts, dowels, rivets or washers e.g. connecting screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30492 using a locking pin
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30494 Cooperating protrusions and recesses, e.g. radial serrations, located on abutting end surfaces of a longitudinal connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30706 : specially designed for children, e.g. having means for adjusting to their growth
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3071 : Identification means; Administration of patients
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5001 : Cosmetic coverings
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5003 : having damping means, e.g. shock absorbers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5009 : having two or more elastomeric blocks
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/503 : for adjusting elasticity, flexibility, spring rate or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5038 : Hinged joint, e.g. with transverse axle restricting the movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5039 : allowing only for single rotation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5041 : having bearing bushes between the rotating parts
• 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 2002/5083 : modular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5087 : Sound-damping or noise-reducing means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/6621 : Toes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/6628 : Big toes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/6642 : Heels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/665 : Soles
• 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 2210/0071 : thermoplastic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0025 : Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0041 : using additional screws, bolts, dowels or rivets, e.g. connecting screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0004 : Rounded shapes, e.g. with rounded corners
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0006 : circular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0008 : elliptical or oval
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/001 : Figure-8-shaped, e.g. hourglass-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0019 : rectangular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0021 : square
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0026 : trapezoidal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0067 : conical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0069 : cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0086 : Pyramidal, tetrahedral, or wedge-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0039 : differing in diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0082 : specially designed for children, e.g. having means for adjusting to their growth
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0089 : coded with symbols, e.g. dots, numbers, letters, words
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00017 : Iron- or Fe-based alloys, e.g. stainless steel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00023 : Titanium or titanium-based alloys, e.g. Ti-Ni alloys

Abstract

A prosthetic foot assembly, said assembly includes an ankle member, a heel member pivotally connected to the ankle member, an elongate metatarsal-toe member having a rear portion underlying a forward portion of the heel member and projecting forwardly from the heel member. The metatarsal-toe member being pivotally connected to the heel member. A first compressible element is engaged between a portion of the ankle member and a portion of the heel member and a second compressible element having first and second substantially circular bearing surfaces engaged between a portion of the heel member and a portion of the metatarsal-toe member to resist upward pivotal movement of a forward end of the metatarsal-toe member relative to the heel member. A portion of the compressible element spaced apart from one of the bearing surfaces has a smaller diameter than the diameter of at least one of the first and second bearing surfaces. Also disclosed is a prosthetic foot assembly incorporating noise abatement features including surface treatments and modified compressible elements or pads.

Claims

1. A prosthetic foot assembly, said assembly comprising:

an ankle member having shoulders extending from each side thereof, said shoulders each having an aperture therethrough;

a foreheel member having a top surface and a bottom surface pivotally connected to said ankle member by an axle;

said foreheel member having a central portion positioned between said shoulders of said ankle member, said central portion having a central transverse bore aligned with said apertures in said shoulders of said ankle member to form a passage through said foreheel member and said ankle member;

said central bore having a diameter larger than the diameter of said axle, said central bore having concentrically aligned counter-bores disposed in each side thereof;

a resilient bushing positioned in each counter-bore, each bushing having an aperture therethrough; and

a rigid liner positioned in the apertures of each resilient bushing, said rigid liner having a inner diameter sized to receive said axle, whereby said resilient bushings allow for resiliently resisted movement of said axle transverse to the longitudinal axis of said axle and said axle is decoupled from said ankle member.

2. A prosthetic foot assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said rigid liner is a bushing.

3. A prosthetic foot assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said rigid liner is a sleeve.

4. A prosthetic foot assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said inner diameter of said rigid liner snugly receives said axle therein.

5. A prosthetic foot assembly as set forth in claim 1 including an integral bushing eccentrically disposed in said central bore which limits upward vertical motion of said axle.

6. A prosthetic foot assembly as set forth in claim 1 further including a first compressible element disposed between said foreheel member and said ankle member forward of said central portion for resiliently resisting counterclockwise motion of said ankle member with respect to said foreheel member;

and a second compressible element disposed between said foreheel member and said ankle member rearward of said central portion for resiliently resisting clockwise motion of said ankle member with respect to said foreheel member.

7. A prosthetic foot assembly as set forth in claim 6, wherein said first compressible element and said second compressible element are each received in a first recess and a second recess, respectively, disposed in said top surface of said foreheel member.

8. A prosthetic foot assembly as set forth in claim 7, wherein a portion of said second compressible element is received in a cup, said cup being received in said second recess.

9. A prosthetic foot assembly as set forth in claim 8, wherein said second recess is threaded.

10. A prosthetic foot assembly as set forth in claim 8, wherein said cup is threaded and is threadingly received in said second recess whereby said second compressible element can be adjusted upwardly and downwardly to pre-load the assembly or to adjust the firmness of the assembly.

11. A prosthetic foot assembly as set forth in claim 10, wherein a threaded fastener is disposed in said threaded second recess and extends into said second recess and engages said cup.

12. A prosthetic foot assembly as set forth in claim 6, wherein said ankle member includes a first recess and a second recess for receiving and retaining a low friction element therein.

13. A prosthetic foot assembly as set forth in claim 12, wherein each low friction element is positioned between said ankle member and one of said first compressible element and said second compressible element whereby under loading conditions, said ankle member is able to slide across said first and second compressible elements.

14. A prosthetic foot assembly as set forth in claim 6, wherein said ankle member includes a top surface adapted to engage an endoskeleton or an exoskeleton, said top surface of said ankle member having an aperture disposed therethrough;

a plurality of slots radially disposed about said aperture; and

a fastener disposed in said aperture for retaining an adaptor for affixation to an endoskeleton or an exoskeleton, said adaptor including at least one detent on its lower surface for engaging at least one of said radial slots to accommodate radial adjustment of the prosthetic foot assembly.

15. A prosthetic foot assembly as set forth in claim 6, wherein said bottom surface of said foreheel member includes a resilient material affixed thereto.

16. A prosthetic foot assembly as set forth in claim 15, wherein said resilient material extends beyond a periphery of said bottom surface of said foreheel member.

17. A prosthetic foot assembly as set forth in claim 15, wherein said resilient material is neoprene.

18. A prosthetic foot assembly as set forth in claim 6, wherein said first compressible element and said second compressible element have first and second substantially circular bearing surfaces, wherein a portion of each of said first and said second compressible elements spaced apart from one of said bearing surfaces has a smaller diameter than the diameter of at least one of said first and second bearing surfaces.

19. A prosthetic foot assembly as set forth in claim 18, wherein the diameter of said spaced apart portion is smaller than the diameter of said second bearing surface and larger than said first bearing surface.

20. A prosthetic foot assembly as set forth in claim 18, wherein the diameter of said spaced apart portion is smaller than the diameter of both said first bearing surface and said second bearing surface.

21. A prosthetic foot assembly as set forth in claim 18, wherein said spaced apart portion is a median portion of said compressible element, said median portion having a small diameter than the diameter of said first and said second bearing surfaces.