Prosthetic foot with enhanced stability and elastic energy return

• US 9,561,118 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2014
• Issued: 02/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ossur Iceland ehf
• Original Assignee: Ossur hf
• Inventors: Jonsson, Vilhjalmur Freyr, Clausen, Arinbjorn Viggo, Andresson, Bjarni, Lecomte, Christophe
• Primary Examiner(s): SWEET, THOMAS
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bahena, Christie
• Application Number:
  US14/188,216
• Publication Number:
  US 20140243997A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,079 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/66 Feet; Ankle joints
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/6607 Ankle joints
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/70 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/74 fluid , i.e. hydraulic or pneumatic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5006 Dampers, e.g. hydraulic damper
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/503 for adjusting elasticity, flexibility, spring rate or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5033 for adjusting damping damping means A61F2002/5003
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5079 Leaf springs A61F2002/6657 takes precedence
• 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 2002/701 operated by electrically controlled means, e.g. solenoids or torque motors
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/7615 Measuring means for implanting artificial joints A61F2/4657

Abstract

A prosthetic foot comprises an attachment member and two or more flexible members. The attachment member can include a connector configured to connect the attachment member to a user or another prosthetic device. The two or more flexible members can be rotatably attached to the attachment member by rotatable joints such that the flexible members can both rotate and flex relative to the attachment member when the prosthetic foot contacts the ground.

Claims

1. A prosthetic foot comprising:

an attachment member disposed at an ankle position of the prosthetic foot, the attachment member comprising a connector configured to connect the attachment member to a user or another prosthetic device; and

two or more flexible members directly attached to each other along a foot portion of the prosthetic foot and separately connected to the attachment member by independent rotatable connections such that both rotation of the flexible members relative to the attachment member and flexion of the flexible members'"'"' shape can be caused by contact between the prosthetic foot and the ground, independent of other forces wherein at least one of the flexible members comprises a C-shaped portion with an opening facing forward, where forward is defined as toward a toe of the foot.

2. The prosthetic foot of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of at least one of the flexible members is located between at least two of the independent rotatable connections.

3. The prosthetic foot of claim 1, wherein the at least two flexible members attached along a foot portion are attached at an adjustable position along the length of the foot portion.

4. The prosthetic foot of claim 3, wherein the at least two flexible members attached along a foot portion comprise a slot passing through at least one of the flexible members and configured to receive a fastener such that the fastener can be positioned at a variety of positions along the length of the slot to alter the position of attachment between the at least two flexible members, thereby varying the stiffness of the prosthetic foot.

5. The prosthetic foot of claim 1, wherein at least one of the flexible members is rotatably connected to the attachment member by an actuator, such that the at least one flexible member is in series with the actuator.

6. The prosthetic foot of claim 5, wherein the actuator is a powered actuator configured to power motion of the at least one of the flexible members.

7. The prosthetic foot of claim 5, wherein at least one of the flexible members is provided in parallel with the actuator.

8. The prosthetic foot of claim 5, wherein the actuator is configured to extend or retract itself to adjust a space between at least two of the two or more flexible members to cause a change in flexibility of at least one flexible member.