Support device replacing the existence or function of a limb

• US 6,908,488 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2000
• Issued: 06/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ottobock SE & Co. KGaA
• Original Assignee: Respecta Oy (Nader Holding GmbH & Co. KG)
• Inventors: Lempinen, Veli-Matti, Passivaara, Esa-Pekka
• Primary Examiner(s): Willse, David H.
• Application Number:
  US10/148,384
• Publication Number:
  US 20030125814A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,646 Days
• Field of Search: 623/24, 623/44, 602/16, 601/5
• US Class Current: 623/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/60 Artificial legs or feet or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/605 Hip joints
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/70 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/74 fluid , i.e. hydraulic or pneumatic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/741 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors or solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/748 Valve systems
• 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 2002/30367 with additional means for preventing said rotation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3037 Translation along the common longitudinal axis, e.g. piston
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30403 Longitudinally-oriented cooperating ribs and grooves on mating lateral surfaces of a mainly longitudinal connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30433 using additional screws, bolts, dowels, rivets or washers e.g. connecting screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30448 using adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30481 using a locking clip
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30495 using a locking ring
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30507 using a threaded locking member, e.g. a locking screw or a set screw
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30514 using a locking washer
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30599 stackable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5003 having damping means, e.g. shock absorbers for implantable joints A61F2002/30563
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5007 having elastic means different from springs, e.g. including an elastomeric insert elastic coating A61F2002/3007; springs A61F2002/5072; plate-like springs for feet A61F2002/6657
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/503 for adjusting elasticity, flexibility, spring rate or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5086 : Lubricating means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5087 : Sound-damping or noise-reducing means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/607 : Lower legs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0025 : Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0033 : made by longitudinally pushing a protrusion into a complementary-shaped recess, e.g. held by friction fit
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0041 : using additional screws, bolts, dowels or rivets, e.g. connecting screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/005 : using adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0063 : Nested prosthetic parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00047 : Aluminium or Al-based alloys

Abstract

A prosthesis or orthosis (orthotic brace) includes at least two parts connected to each other by an artificial joint and a control device to brake or lock the joint. The prosthesis or orthosis includes a sensor which detects the position in relation to a fixed line of a part connected to the joint and which is connected to a control device arranged to influence the joint on the basis of position data given by the sensor. The prosthesis or orthosis is a lower limb prosthesis, such as a thigh prosthesis or a hip ex-articulation prosthesis, or a lower limb orthosis. The sensor is arranged to detect the position of the thigh part in relation to a vertical line. The control device is arranged to influence the movement resistance properties of the joint on the basis of data given by the sensor. The sensor is based on detecting the direction of earth'"'"'s gravity.

Claims

1. A prosthetic or orthotic support device for replacing the existence or function of a limb of a body, comprising:

a first part and a second part connected to each other by an artificial knee joint including a pivot, of which parts the first part is a thigh part, which is configured to be fixed to a person'"'"'s body or which is a part positioned to be closer to the body than the second part, seen from the artificial knee joint;

a control device for the artificial joint, and

a sensor arranged to detect the inclinational position in relation to a fixed line of said thigh part and placed on that side of the pivot of the artificial knee joint which is pivotable together with the movement of the thigh part;

said sensor being coupled to the control device, which is arranged to influence movement resistance properties of the artificial knee joint on the basis of data about said inclinational position given by said sensor in a predetermined inclinational position of said thigh part.

2. The support device according to claim 1, wherein in a first inclinational position of the part, the control device is arranged to brake the artificial knee joint or to lock the artificial knee joint, and in a second position, the control device is arranged to release the locking of the artificial knee joint or to relieve the braking.

3. The support device according to claim 2, wherein the first position comprises a first range of angles of inclination and the second position comprises a second range of angles of inclination, wherein a predetermined limit value between the first range and the second range is determined for the sensor or the control device, at which limit value the control device is arranged to change the movement resistance properties of the artificial knee joint.

4. The support device according to claim 3, wherein the control device is arranged, on the basis of the inclinational position data given by the sensor, to release the locking of the artificial knee joint or to relieve its braking when the thigh part of the support device moves backward from a forwardly inclined position, and to lock the joint or to increase its braking when the thigh part of the support device moves forward from a backwardly inclined position.

5. The support device according to claim 3, wherein the limit value can be changed in the support device.

6. The support device according to claim 1, wherein the control device is a pump which is used as an attenuator between the pivotal halves of the artificial knee joint and which has an adjustable resistance to the flow of the medium.

7. The support device according to claim 1, wherein, to determine the position of both parts connected to each other by means of the artificial knee joint, the support device also comprises a second sensor which is arranged to detect the position of the second part connected to the artificial knee joint.

8. The support device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is a sensor detecting along the direction of earth'"'"'s gravity.

9. The support device according to claim 1, wherein said part fixable to the body or closer to the body is a part movable by means of the body.