Prosthetic knee and leg assembly for use in athletic activities in which the quadriceps are normally used for support and dynamic function
First Claim
1. A prosthetic knee and lower leg assembly comprising:
- a residual thigh attachment plate;
a shin frame pivotally connected to the residual thigh attachment plate; and
a suspension strut coupled to both said residual thigh attachment plate and a lower portion of said shin frame, said suspension strut having a hydraulic chamber within an externally-threaded main body, a plunger shaft which slides within said hydraulic chamber, a coil spring which biases the plunger shaft to a fully-extended position, an air valve coupled to the hydraulic chamber for injecting compressed air into that chamber for providing additional bias on said plunger shaft, an internally-threaded spring retention collar which engages said externally-threaded main body, said internally-threaded spring retention collar enabling tension on said coil spring to be adjusted, and a trunnion unit affixed to said suspension strut for pivotally coupling the latter between said residual thigh attachment plate and said shin frame, said suspension strut dynamically storing energy as said shin frame is pivoted from an extended position to a bent position, and releasing energy as it is pivoted from the bent position to the extended position, thereby simulating the function of the quadriceps during sporting applications such as skiing, rock climbing and surfing.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a new prosthetic knee and lower leg device that enables an above-the-knee amputee to participate in demanding athletic activities in which the quadricep muscles are used extensively for support and dynamic function. The prosthetic device includes a residual thigh attachment plate that is pivotally coupled to a shin frame. An adjustable suspension strut is coupled to both the residual thigh attachment plate and the shin frame. The functional length of the strut can be adjusted, as can be the lower mounting position thereof. The prosthetic device can be adjusted with regard to functional characteristics, performance settings, and “home position” angles of the knee. The extent of adjustability enables the user to adapt the device for different levels of aggressiveness, different activities and different circumstances, and also allows the device to be adapted to users of different weights and size.
14 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A prosthetic knee and lower leg assembly comprising:
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a residual thigh attachment plate; a shin frame pivotally connected to the residual thigh attachment plate; and a suspension strut coupled to both said residual thigh attachment plate and a lower portion of said shin frame, said suspension strut having a hydraulic chamber within an externally-threaded main body, a plunger shaft which slides within said hydraulic chamber, a coil spring which biases the plunger shaft to a fully-extended position, an air valve coupled to the hydraulic chamber for injecting compressed air into that chamber for providing additional bias on said plunger shaft, an internally-threaded spring retention collar which engages said externally-threaded main body, said internally-threaded spring retention collar enabling tension on said coil spring to be adjusted, and a trunnion unit affixed to said suspension strut for pivotally coupling the latter between said residual thigh attachment plate and said shin frame, said suspension strut dynamically storing energy as said shin frame is pivoted from an extended position to a bent position, and releasing energy as it is pivoted from the bent position to the extended position, thereby simulating the function of the quadriceps during sporting applications such as skiing, rock climbing and surfing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification