Orthosis knee joint
First Claim
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1. A selectively lockable orthotic device for association with the leg of a person comprising:
- a selectively lockable mechanical orthotic knee joint that is capable of flexion and extension movement and includes a rigid locking mechanism having at least two axially opposed plates with intermeshing teeth, said rigid locking mechanism preventing flexion but permitting extension when in a locked position and permitting flexion and extension when in an unlocked position;
a pressure sensor for sensing a threshold pressure exerted by the person'"'"'s foot that is indicative of a person placing at least a portion of his weight on the leg associated with the device; and
an electronic control circuit for controlling the rigid locking and unlocking of said plates that causes the knee joint to be in a locked position when at least the threshold pressure is placed on the foot of the person and sensed by the pressure sensor and in an unlocked position when less than the threshold pressure is placed on the person'"'"'s foot and sensed by the pressure sensor.
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Abstract
A selectively lockable orthotic joint is provided that in one embodiment includes at least one pressure sensor and an electronic circuit associated with the pressure sensor for generating or providing a control signal indicative of pressure, force or other value sensed by the sensor. A mechanical orthotic joint is provided that has a locking mechanism that can be selectively locked and unlocked in response to the control signal.
143 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A selectively lockable orthotic device for association with the leg of a person comprising:
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a selectively lockable mechanical orthotic knee joint that is capable of flexion and extension movement and includes a rigid locking mechanism having at least two axially opposed plates with intermeshing teeth, said rigid locking mechanism preventing flexion but permitting extension when in a locked position and permitting flexion and extension when in an unlocked position;
a pressure sensor for sensing a threshold pressure exerted by the person'"'"'s foot that is indicative of a person placing at least a portion of his weight on the leg associated with the device; and
an electronic control circuit for controlling the rigid locking and unlocking of said plates that causes the knee joint to be in a locked position when at least the threshold pressure is placed on the foot of the person and sensed by the pressure sensor and in an unlocked position when less than the threshold pressure is placed on the person'"'"'s foot and sensed by the pressure sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A selectively lockable orthotic device for association with the leg of a person comprising:
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a selectively lockable mechanical orthotic knee joint that is capable of flexion and extension movement and includes means for rigidly locking the knee joint to prevent flexion and to permit extension of the knee joint when the knee joint is in a locked position and which locking mechanism permits flexion and extension of the knee joint when the knee joint is in an unlocked position;
a sensor for sensing a threshold control signal from the person'"'"'s leg that is indicative of a person placing at least a portion of his weight on the leg associated with the device; and
an electronic control circuit for controlling the rigid locking and unlocking of the knee plates that causes the knee joint to be in a locked position when at least the threshold signal is sensed by the sensor and in an unlocked position when less than the threshold signal is sensed by the sensor. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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10. A method for selectively locking and unlocking an orthotic device associated with a leg of a person comprising a selectively lockable orthotic joint having at least one pressure sensor, an electronic circuit associated with said pressure sensor for controlling the orthotic joint, the orthotic joint having a rigid locking mechanism having at least two axially opposed plates with intermeshing teeth, the locking mechanism selectively locked allowing extension and preventing flexion and unlocked allowing extension and flexion in response to the sensed pressure, the method comprising:
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sensing pressure exerted by the person'"'"'s foot with the pressure sensor that communicates with the electronic circuit; and
interlocking the intermeshing teeth of the axially opposed plates with the electronic circuit when at least a threshold pressure is sensed by the sensor. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification