Artificial limbs incorporating superelastic supports

• US 6,852,132 B1
• Filed: 07/03/2002
• Issued: 02/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CardioVascular Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Russell A. Houser
• Inventors: Houser, Russell A., Hare, William D.
• Primary Examiner(s): STEWART, ALVIN J
• Application Number:
  US10/187,878
• Time in Patent Office: 951 Days
• Field of Search: 623 27- 46, 623 47- 56, 901 27- 29, 901 30- 31, 901/8
• US Class Current: 623/52
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/187 Resiliency achieved by the features of the material, e.g. foam, non liquid materials
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/1415 characterised by the location under the foot
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/60 Artificial legs or feet or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/64 Knee joints
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/66 Feet; Ankle joints
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/6607 Ankle joints
• 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 2002/30329 Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30462 retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5079 Leaf springs A61F2002/6657 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/607 Lower legs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/608 Upper legs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/6614 Feet
• 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 2002/6664 Dual structures made of two connected cantilevered leaf springs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/6678 L-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/705 Electromagnetic data transfer for implantable prostheses A61F2250/0002
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/7862 Harnesses, straps for connecting prosthetic parts A61F2002/30462
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/7881 using hook and loop-type fasteners for connecting prosthetic parts A61F2002/30467
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0025 : Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0075 : sutured, ligatured or stitched, retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 1/0218 : Drawing-out devices suspension devices for supporting the patient in upright walking or standing position A61H3/008; orthopedic devices for non-surgical treatment A61F5/01; stretching fractured limbs A61F5/04
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/02 : using resilient force-resisters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4025 : Resistance devices worn on the user's body A63B21/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0048 : Head
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/022 : mounted on seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/001 : Knee, leg or head belts

Abstract

A method of using an artificial limb includes mounting an artificial limb to a body part, applying a force to the artificial limb to deflect the artificial limb from a first position in a first direction, and removing the force, whereby the artificial limb moves to the first position. The artificial limb includes a mounting end configured to be mounted to a body part and one or more superelastic members. The superelastic members may be made of Nitinol.

Claims

1. An artificial limb comprising:

a mounting end configured to be externally mounted to a patient'"'"'s body; and

one or more superelastic members, whereby in use of the artificial limb, pressing the artificial limb against a surface applies a force of flexing to the superelastic members and causes the superelastic member to flex from a first position to a second position and upon removal of the force of flexing the superelastic member returns to the first position.

2. The artificial limb of claim 1, wherein at least one of the superelastic members are connected to the mounting end.

3. The artificial limb of claim 1, wherein a first superelastic member includes a curved section.

4. The artificial limb of claim 1, wherein the one or more superelastic members comprises Nitinol.

5. The artificial limb of claim 1, wherein the one or more superelastic members comprise a pair of generally parallel superelastic members.

6. An artificial limb comprising:

a mounting end configured to be mounted to a patient'"'"'s body;

a first superelastic member; and

a second superelastic member extending from the first superelastic member, whereby in use of the artificial limb, pressing the artificial limb against a surface applies a force of flexing to the superelastic members and causes the superelastic member to flex from a first position to a second position and upon removal of the force of flexing the superelastic member returns to the first position.

7. The artificial limb of claim 6, wherein the first superelastic member has a first orientation, the second superelastic member has a second orientation, and the first orientation is generally perpendicular to the second orientation.

8. The artificial limb of claim 6, wherein the second superelastic member includes a curved section.

9. The artificial limb of claim 6, wherein the second superelastic member comprises Nitinol.

10. The artificial limb of claim 6, wherein the second superelastic member comprises a pair of generally parallel superelastic members.

11. The artificial limb of claim 6, further comprising a third superelastic member extending in a generally perpendicular direction from the first superelastic member, whereby a force of flexing the first superelastic member in the direction of the second superelastic member is counteracted by the third superelastic member contacting the second superelastic member.

12. A method of using an artificial limb comprising:

mounting an artificial limb to a patient'"'"'s body, the artificial limb comprising a mounting end configured to be mounted to a body part and one or more superelastic members;

applying a force to the artificial limb to deflect the artificial limb from a first position in a first direction; and

removing the force, whereby the artificial limb moves to the first position, wherein applying a force to the artificial limb comprises pressing the artificial limb against a surface.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein mounting an artificial limb to a body part comprises placing a tightening link around the body part.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein mounting an artificial limb to a body part comprises inserting the body part into a concave housing.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein applying a force to the artificial limb comprises bending the one or more superelastic members.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the one or more superelastic materials comprise Nitinol.