Electronically controlled prosthetic knee
First Claim
1. A prosthetic knee, comprising:
- a plurality of rotors being rotatable about a longitudinal axis of said prosthetic knee;
a plurality of stators alternatingly interspersed with said rotors to form gaps therebetween;
a fluid adapted to undergo a rheology change in response to an applied magnetic field and residing in said gaps formed between said rotors and said stators;
whereby, controlled variation of said magnetic field varies the fluid rheology and shearing of said fluid caused by relative rotation between said rotors and stators during knee rotation generates a controllable variable knee torque.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to a variable-torque magnetorheologically actuated prosthetic knee which utilizes a plurality of interspersed and alternating rotors and stators to shear magnetorheological fluid in gaps formed therebetween. Advantageously, by operating in the “shear mode” there is substantially no or negligible fluid pressure buildup or change. Moreover, the multiple MR fluid gaps or flux interfaces desirably allow for the production of a large torque at low speed—eliminating the need for a transmission—and also for a wide dynamic torque range. One embodiment of the invention allows the rotors and/or stators to close the gaps therebetween to create a frictional torque component, thereby forming a “hybrid” braking system which provides a total torque or damping which is a combination of viscous torque and frictional torque.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A prosthetic knee, comprising:
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a plurality of rotors being rotatable about a longitudinal axis of said prosthetic knee;
a plurality of stators alternatingly interspersed with said rotors to form gaps therebetween;
a fluid adapted to undergo a rheology change in response to an applied magnetic field and residing in said gaps formed between said rotors and said stators;
whereby, controlled variation of said magnetic field varies the fluid rheology and shearing of said fluid caused by relative rotation between said rotors and stators during knee rotation generates a controllable variable knee torque. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
a substantially central core and a pair of side plates formed from a magnetically soft material to create a magnetic return path; and
an electromagnet positioned between said core and said rotors and said stators and being responsive to an electrical signal to generate said magnetic field to cause a controlled change in the rheology of said fluid.
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20. The prosthetic knee of claim 1, further comprising a rotatable inner spline with said rotors engaged with said inner spline.
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21. The prosthetic knee of claim 20, wherein said inner spline comprises a plurality of longitudinal grooves and each of said rotors comprises a plurality of teeth matingly engaged with said longitudinal grooves of said inner spline.
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22. The prosthetic knee of claim 20, wherein said inner spline comprises a titanium alloy.
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23. The prosthetic knee of claim 20, further comprising a pair of bearings in rotary communication with said inner spline.
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24. The prosthetic knee of claim 23, further comprising a pair of rotatable side mounting forks with each in mechanical communication with one of said bearings to facilitate connection of said prosthetic knee to a prosthetic shin.
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25. The prosthetic knee of claim 1, further comprising an outer spline with said stators engaged with said outer spline.
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26. The prosthetic knee of claim 25, wherein said outer spline comprises a plurality of longitudinal grooves and each of said stators comprises a plurality of teeth matingly engaged with said longitudinal grooves of said outer spline.
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27. The prosthetic knee of claim 25, wherein said outer spline comprises an anodized aluminum alloy.
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28. The prosthetic knee of claim 25, wherein said outer spline comprises a pyramid stub to facilitate connection of said prosthetic knee to a residual limb socket.
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29. The prosthetic knee of claim 1, further comprising a magnetic exterior portion and a pair of mechanically connected magnetic side plates to create a magnetic return path for said magnetic field.
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30. The prosthetic knee of claim 1, further comprising a cushioned flexion stop system to control the maximum flexion of said prosthetic knee.
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31. The prosthetic knee of claim 1, further comprising a cushioned extension stop system to control the maximum extension of said prosthetic knee.
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32. The prosthetic knee of claim 1, further comprising an extension assist device for facilitating in extending said prosthetic knee.
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33. The prosthetic knee of claim 1, further comprising a controller to control and monitor the actuations of said prosthetic knee.
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34. A prosthetic assembly, comprising:
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the prosthetic knee as recited in claim 1;
a stump socket in mechanical communication with said prosthetic knee and adapted to receive the residual limb of an amputee;
a prosthetic shin portion in mechanical communication with said prosthetic knee; and
a prosthetic foot in mechanical communication with said prosthetic shin portion.
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Specification