Prosthetic foot with tunable performance

• US 7,211,115 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2002
• Issued: 05/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: BioQuest Prosthetics LLC
• Original Assignee: BioQuest Prosthetics LLC
• Inventors: Townsend, Barry W., Claudino, Byron Kent
• Primary Examiner(s): Willse; David H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Blanco; Javier G.
• Application Number:
  US10/473,680
• Publication Number:
  US 20040122529A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,859 Days
• Field of Search: 623/27, 623/47, 623/48, 623/49, 623/50, 623/51, 623/52, 623/53, 623/54, 623/55
• US Class Current: 623/52
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/60 Artificial legs or feet or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/66 Feet; Ankle joints
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/6607 Ankle joints
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/74 fluid , i.e. hydraulic or pneumatic
• 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 2002/30433 using additional screws, bolts, dowels, rivets or washers e.g. connecting screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30462 retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5001 Cosmetic coverings
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5003 having damping means, e.g. shock absorbers for implantable joints A61F2002/30563
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5006 Dampers, e.g. hydraulic damper
• 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 2002/5009 having two or more elastomeric blocks
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/503 for adjusting elasticity, flexibility, spring rate or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5032 for adjusting fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5033 for adjusting damping damping means A61F2002/5003
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5075 Multiple spring systems including two or more helical springs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5079 Leaf springs A61F2002/6657 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5083 modular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/607 Lower legs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/6614 Feet
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/6621 : Toes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/6628 : Big toes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/6635 : Metatarsals
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/6642 : Heels
• 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 2002/6671 : C-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/6678 : L-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/6685 : S-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/704 : computer-controlled, e.g. robotic control
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/7615 : Measuring means for implanting artificial joints A61F2/4657
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0041 : using additional screws, bolts, dowels or rivets, e.g. connecting screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0075 : sutured, ligatured or stitched, retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/4816 : Wall or shell material

Abstract

A prosthetic foot (70) incorporates a foot keel (71) and a calf shank (72) connected to the foot keel to form an ankle joint area of the prosthetic foot. The foot keel has forefoot and hindfoot portions and an upwardly arched midfoot portion extending between the forefoot and midfoot portions. The calf shank includes a downward convexly curved lower end which is secured to the foot keel by way of a coupling element (73). The lower end of the calf shank extends upwardly, and initially anteriorly therefrom into a reversely curved portion (75) of the calf shank leading to an upstanding upper end thereof.

Claims

1. A prosthetic foot comprising:

a longitudinally extending foot keel;

a calf shank secured to the foot keel at a lower end thereof and extending upwardly from the foot keel;

wherein the lower end of the calf shank is downward, convexly curved and extends upwardly, and initially anteriorly therefrom into a reversely curved portion of the calf shank leading to an upstanding upper end thereof;

wherein the reversely curved portion of the calf shank has a posteriorally facing surface which is provided with a plurality of S-shaped longitudinally extending grooves and fins formed thereon to facilitate resilient compression thereof in response to forces on the calf shank during use of the prosthetic foot.

2. The prosthetic foot according to claim 1, wherein the lower end of the calf shank is generally parabola shaped with the smallest radius of curvature thereof located at the lower end.

3. The prosthetic foot according to claim 1, wherein the calf shank extends upwardly from the foot keel above a hindfoot portion and the posterior part of a midfoot portion of the foot keel.

4. The prosthetic foot according to claim 1, further comprising a cosmetic covering in the shape of a human foot and lower leg, the cosmetic cover being located over the foot keel and at least the lower end of the calf shank with the calf shank rising upwardly from the foot keel within the lower leg covering.

5. The prosthetic foot according to claim 1, further comprising an adjustable fastening arrangement securing the calf shank to the foot keel, the fastening arrangement permitting adjustment of the relationship of the foot keel and calf shank to tune the performance of the prosthetic foot.

6. The prosthetic foot according to claim 5, wherein the adjustable fastening arrangement includes at least one releasable fastener and a longitudinally extending opening in the foot keel through which the fastener extends to permit adjustment of the alignment of the calf shank and foot keel in the longitudinal direction of the foot keel.

7. The prosthetic foot according to claim 1, wherein the calf shank is secured to the foot keel by way of a coupling element.

8. The prosthetic foot according to claim 1, wherein the calf shank and foot keel have respective convexly curved surfaces whose radii and relationship affect a dynamic response capability and motion outcome of the prosthetic foot in gait, the respective convexly curved surfaces including a dorsal surface of a midfoot portion of the foot keel and the downward, convexly curved and anteriorly facing surface of the calf shank.

9. The prosthetic foot according to claim 1, wherein the convexly curved lower end of the calf shank has a radius of curvature which increases as the calf shank extends upwardly from its curved lower end.

10. A prosthetic foot comprising:

a longitudinally extending foot keel having a forefoot portion at one end, a hindfoot Portion at an opposite end and an upwardly arched midfoot portion extending between the forefoot and hindfoot portions;

a coupling element connected to the upwardly arched midfoot portion of the foot keel by a first releasable fastener, the coupling element extending posteriorly in the longitudinal direction of the foot keel to where the coupling element is spaced above the hindfoot portion of the foot keel;

a resilient, upstanding calf shank having a lower end connected to the foot keel by way of the coupling element to form an ankle joint area of the foot, and an upper end to connect with a supporting structure on an amputee'"'"'s leg, the lower end of the calf shank being connected to the coupling element by a second releasable fastener spaced posteriorly in the longitudinal direction of the foot keel from the first releasable fastener for increasing the active length and dynamic response capability of the calf shank;

wherein the lower end of the calf shank is downward, convexly curved and extends upwardly, and initially anteriorly therefrom into a reversely curved portion of the calf shank leading to the upper end thereof.

11. The prosthetic foot according to claim 10, further comprising an adjustable fastening arrangement to permit adjustment of the alignment of the calf shank and the foot keel with respect to one another in the longitudinal direction of the foot keel for tuning the performance of the prosthetic foot.

12. The prosthetic foot according to claim 11, wherein the adjustable fastening arrangement includes a longitudinally extending opening in the foot keel through which the first releasable fastener extends to permit said adjustment of the alignment of the foot keel and calf shank.

13. The prosthetic foot according to claim 10, wherein the convexly curved lower end of the calf shank has a radius of curvature which increases as the calf shank extends upwardly from its curved lower end.

14. The prosthetic foot according to claim 10, wherein the lower end of the calf shank is generally parabola shaped with the smallest radius of curvature thereof located at the lower end.

15. The prosthetic foot according to claim 10, further comprising a cosmetic covering in the shape of a human foot and lower leg, the cosmetic covering being located over the foot keel and at least the lower end of the calf shank with the calf shank rising upwardly from the foot keel within the lower leg covering.

16. A prosthetic foot comprising:

a longitudinally extending foot keel;

a coupling element connected to the foot keel;

a resilient, upstanding calf shank having a lower end connected to the foot keel by way of the coupling element to form an ankle joint area of the foot, and an upper end to connect with a supporting structure on an amputee'"'"'s leg;

wherein the lower end of the calf shank is downward, convexly curved and extends upwardly, and initially anteriorly therefrom into a reversely curved portion of the calf shank leading to the upper end thereof;

wherein the reversely curved portion of the calf shank has a posteriorly facing surface which is provided with a plurality of S-shaped longitudinally extending grooves and fins formed thereon to facilitate resilient compression of the calf shank while resisting expansion thereof in response to forces on the calf shank during use of the prosthetic foot.

17. A calf shank for a prosthetic foot comprising:

an elongated, semi-rigid resilient member having an outward convexly curved portion at one end of said member for attachment to a foot keel to form an ankle area of the prosthetic foot, an opposite end of said member to connect with a supporting structure on an amputee'"'"'s leg, and wherein said convexly curved portion at said one end of said member extends from the one end and into a reversely curved portion of the calf shank leading to the opposite end;

wherein the reversely curved portion of the calf shank has a conversely curved face with a plurality of S-shaped longitudinally extending grooves and fins formed thereon to facilitate resilient compression of the calf shank while resisting expansion thereof in response to forces on the calf shank during use of the calf shank in a prosthetic foot.

18. The calf shank according to claim 17, further comprising a fastening arrangement including a longitudinally extending opening in said convexly curved one end of said member along which a fastener for connecting said calf shank to a foot keel can be slid.

19. The calf shank according to claim 17, wherein the convexly curved one end has a generally parabola shape with the smallest radius of the curvature located at the one end.

20. The calf shank according to claim 17, wherein the convexly curved one end has a radius of curvature which increases as the calf shank extends from the one end.