Powered prosthetic hip joint

• US 9,895,240 B2
• Filed: 04/21/2015
• Issued: 02/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ossur hf
• Original Assignee: Osur Hf
• Inventors: Langlois, David, Clausen, Arinbjrn Viggo, Einarsson, rni
• Primary Examiner(s): Woznicki, Jacqueline
• Application Number:
  US14/692,521
• Publication Number:
  US 20150223952A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,036 Days
• 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 2/64 Knee joints
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/66 Feet; Ankle joints
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/70 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/80 Sockets, e.g. of suction type
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5018 for adjusting angular orientation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/6836 Gears specially adapted therefor, e.g. reduction gears
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/701 operated by electrically controlled means, e.g. solenoids or torque motors
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/705 Electromagnetic data transfer for implantable prostheses A61F2250/0002
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/7625 for measuring angular position
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/7635 for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/7645 for measuring torque, e.g. hinge or turning moment, moment of force

Abstract

A powered prosthetic thigh can have a proximal portion configured to couple to a prosthetic hip socket and can have a distal portion attached to the proximal portion. The distal portion can have a distal connector configured to couple to a prosthetic knee. The powered prosthetic thigh can also have a computer controlled actuator configured to rotate the prosthetic thigh relative to the prosthetic hip socket.

Claims

1. A powered prosthetic thigh, comprising:

a proximal connector having a first end and a second end along a first longitudinal axis;

a proximal portion coupled to the first end of the proximal connector, wherein the second end of the proximal connector comprises a free end that extends away from the proximal portion along the first longitudinal axis and is configured to couple the prosthetic thigh to a prosthetic socket, wherein the prosthetic socket is configured to attach to an amputee;

a distal portion that extends along a second longitudinal axis that is perpendicular with respect to the first longitudinal axis;

a distal connector including a first end and a second end along the second longitudinal axis, the first end coupled to a distal end of the distal portion, and the second end being a free end that extends away from the distal portion and is configured to couple to a prosthetic knee; and

a computer controlled actuator mounted collinearly to the first end of the proximal connector along the first longitudinal axis, the computer controlled actuator operatively coupled with the first end of the proximal connector and configured to transmit a torque to the proximal connector via the first end of the proximal connector, wherein the transmitted torque rotates the prosthetic thigh about a rotation axis and along a sagittal plane when attached to the amputee, wherein the rotation axis is parallel to the first longitudinal axis, and wherein the proximal connector is located between at least a portion of the computer controlled actuator and the prosthetic socket.

2. The powered prosthetic thigh of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a motor and a transmission.

3. The powered prosthetic thigh of claim 2, wherein the motor is operatively coupled to the proximal connector by at least one of a gear, a belt, or a chain.

4. The powered prosthetic thigh of claim 2, wherein the transmission is mounted collinearly with the proximal connector.

5. The powered prosthetic thigh of claim 2, wherein the motor is mounted collinearly with the transmission.

6. The powered prosthetic thigh of claim 2, wherein the actuator comprises a hydraulic pump and the transmission comprises a hydraulic transmission system.

7. The powered prosthetic thigh of claim 1, wherein the actuator is further mounted coaxially to the proximal connector.

8. The powered prosthetic thigh of claim 1, further comprising a second actuator coupled with the distal portion of the powered prosthetic thigh.

9. The powered prosthetic thigh of claim 1, wherein the second longitudinal axis corresponds to the sagittal plane.