Prosthetic foot with an adjustable ankle and method

• US 6,966,933 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2003
• Issued: 11/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Freedom Innovations LLC (Ottobock SE & Co. KGaA)
• Original Assignee: Roland J. Christensen
• Inventors: Christensen, Roland J.
• Primary Examiner(s): SNOW, BRUCE EDWARD
• Application Number:
  US10/690,941
• Publication Number:
  US 20050085926A1
• Time in Patent Office: 763 Days
• Field of Search: 623 47- 56, 623/38
• US Class Current: 623/47
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/6607 Ankle joints
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30354 Cylindrically-shaped protrusion and recess, e.g. cylinder of circular basis
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30405 made by screwing complementary threads machined on the parts themselves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30433 using additional screws, bolts, dowels, rivets or washers e.g. connecting screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30471 connected by a hinged linkage mechanism, e.g. of the single-bar or multi-bar linkage type
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30525 Worm gears
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5018 for adjusting angular orientation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/502 for adjusting length
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5039 allowing only for single rotation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/6621 Toes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/6642 Heels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/6664 Dual structures made of two connected cantilevered leaf springs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/6685 S-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/705 Electromagnetic data transfer
• 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 2220/0091 connected by a hinged linkage mechanism, e.g. of the single-bar or multi-bar linkage type

Abstract

A prosthetic foot with an adjustable ankle includes an upper portion coupled to a socket of an amputee. A lower portion is adjustably coupled to the upper portion, and is attached to a foot member with heel and toe sections. A movable coupling is disposed between the upper and lower portions, and includes a displacement member slidably coupled to a displacement track. The movable coupling allows the toe section to pivot downward and the heel section to simultaneously displace forward.

Claims

1. A prosthetic foot device with an adjustable ankle, comprising:

a) an attachment member configured to be coupled to a socket of an amputee; and

b) a foot member, adjustably coupled with respect to the attachment member, having heel and toe sections; and

c) an adjustable ankle, disposed between the foot member and the attachment member, including an arcuate projection with a convex bearing surface and a T-shaped cross-section slidable in an arcuate slot with a T-shaped cross-section.

2. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the foot member is pivotal and displaceable with respect to the attachment member between at least two fixed positions, including:

a) a low position in which the heel section is disposed at a lower elevational position and in which the heel section is disposed in a rearward position relative to the attachment member; and

b) a high position in which the heel section is disposed at a higher elevational position and in which the heel section is disposed in forward direction relative to the attachment member.

3. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the arcuate slot is formed in the attachment member;

and wherein the arcuate projection extends from the foot member.

4. A device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

a) an aperture, formed in the projection; and

b) a locking pin, disposable in the aperture.

5. An adjustable ankle device for a prosthetic foot, comprising:

a) an upper portion configured to be coupled to a socket of an amputee; and

b) a lower portion, adjustably coupled to the upper portion, configured to be attached to a foot member with heel and toe sections; and

c) an adjustable ankle, disposed between the upper and lower portions, having a constrained and arcuate movement path limiting both pivotal movement and displacement of the lower portion with respect to the upper portion to the arcuate movement path, and oriented so that the lower portion is limited to simultaneously pivot and displace forward and downward, or rearward and upward; and

d) the adjustable ankle including an arcuate projection with a T-shaped cross-sectional shape slidable in arcuate slot with a T-shaped cross-sectional shape.

6. A device in accordance with claim 5, wherein the arcuate projection includes a convex bearing surface.

7. A device in accordance with claim 5, further comprising:

a) an aperture, formed in the arcuate projection; and

b) a locking pin, disposable in the aperture.

8. An adjustable ankle device for a prosthetic foot, comprising:

a) an upper portion configured to be coupled to a socket of an amputee; and

b) a lower portion, adjustably coupled to the upper portion, configured to be attached to a foot member with heel and toe sections; and

c) a movable coupling, disposed between the upper and lower portions, having an arcuate movement track and constraining both pivotal and displacement movement of the lower portion with respect to the upper portion to the arcuate displacement track so that the lower portion is limited to move;

i) simultaneously in a downward and forward direction in which the lower portion simultaneously pivots downward and displaces forward with respect to the upper portion; and

ii) simultaneously in a rearward and upward direction in which the lower portion simultaneously pivots upward and displaces rearward with respect to the upper portion; and

d) the lower portion being pivotal and displaceable with respect to the upper portion between at least two fixed positions, including;

i) a low position configured to dispose the heel section at a lower elevational position and to dispose the heel section in a rearward position relative to the upper portion; and

ii) a high position configured to dispose the heel section at a higher elevational position and to dispose the heel section in a forward position relative to the upper portion;

e) the movable coupling further including an arched coupling oriented upright with respect to the lower portion and having at least one end of the arched coupling being disposed at a lower elevation with respect to a central section of the arched coupling, and including an arcuate projection with a T-shaped cross-sectional shape slidable in an arcuate slot with a T-shaped cross-sectional shape.

9. A device in accordance with claim 8, wherein the arcuate projection includes a convex bearing surface.

10. A device in accordance with claim 8, further comprising:

a) an aperture, formed in the arcuate projection; and

b) a locking pin, disposable in the aperture.