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Prosthetic foot with energy transfer medium including variable viscosity fluid

  • US 6,663,673 B2
  • Filed: 05/03/2002
  • Issued: 12/16/2003
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2000
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A prosthetic foot device with variable stiffness response, the device comprising:

  • a) first and second foot members, configured to be coupled to an amputee;

    b) at least one of the first and second foot members being a resilient member capable of storing energy during deflection;

    c) a flexible bladder, disposed between the first and second foot members; and

    d) a variable viscosity fluid, disposed in the flexible bladder, to variably transfer energy between the first and second foot members during use, the variable viscosity fluid being capable of increasing viscosity with an increase in a load factor to transfer more load between the first and second foot members during the increase in the load factor, and being capable of decreasing viscosity during a decrease in the load factor to transfer less load between the first and second foot members during the decrease in the load factor.

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