A61F2002/5079

Artificial ankle-foot system with spring, variable-damping, and series-elastic actuator components

An artificial foot and ankle joint consists of a curved leaf spring foot member having a heel extremity and a toe extremity, and a flexible elastic ankle member that connects the foot member for rotation at the ankle joint. An actuator motor applies torque to the ankle joint to orient the foot when it is not in contact with the support surface and to store energy in a catapult spring that is released along with the energy stored in the leaf spring to propel the wearer forward. A ribbon clutch prevents the foot member from rotating in one direction beyond a predetermined limit position. A controllable damper is employed to lock the ankle joint or to absorb mechanical energy as needed. The controller and sensing mechanisms control both the actuator motor and the controllable damper at different times during the walking cycle for level walking, stair ascent, and stair descent.

Prosthetic foot with enhanced stability and elastic energy return

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.

PROSTHETIC FOOT COMPONENT
20220087834 · 2022-03-24 · ·

The invention relates to a prosthetic foot component comprising: a. a proximal fastening system for securing the prosthetic foot component to a proximal component or to a patient; b. a retaining portion situated distally relative to the fastening system and connected to the latter; and c. a main spring extending in a front-foot region and coupled to the retaining portion, wherein: said retaining portion is mounted on the main spring to tilt on the sagittal plane; and a posterior limiting element, which limits the displacement of the retaining portion away from the main spring, is provided between the main spring and the retaining portion.

Prosthetic device, system and method for increasing vacuum attachment

A prosthetic system includes a prosthetic foot defining an upper surface and having a flexible configuration and a pump system attached to the prosthetic foot. The pump system includes a pump mechanism defining a fluid chamber having variable configuration and an actuating part. The actuating part is arranged to selectively engage with and separate a distance from the upper surface of the foot plate to move the pump mechanism between a first position in which a volume of the fluid chamber is zero or near-zero and a second position in which the volume of the fluid chamber is expanded relative to the first position. The volume of the fluid chamber increases when the actuating part moves away from the upper surface of the foot plate.

SOLE OF ATHLETIC PROSTHETIC LEG
20210290414 · 2021-09-23 · ·

A sole which is attached to a ground contact region of an athletic prosthetic leg having a leaf-spring-like leg portion extending to a side of a toe via at least one curved portion, the ground contact region extending in an arc from the toe to a side of the curved portion is provided. The sole includes a bottom surface having a shape conforming to an extending shape of the ground contact region, and the bottom surface has at least one width direction land portion defined by a plurality of width direction grooves extending in a width direction of the sole. Moreover, the width direction land portion includes a chamfer at each of both end edges at border positions, respectively, between a contact patch and both side walls facing the plurality of width direction grooves.

Prosthetic device, system and method for increasing vacuum attachment

A prosthetic system includes a prosthetic valve having a valve body with a shaft defining a flow channel fluidly connectable to an interior of a socket. One or more ports in the valve body are in fluid communication with the flow channel and a membrane is positioned in the valve body. A release button associated with the membrane controls allow air flow into the socket via the one or more ports while air can flow out of the socket via the one or more ports independent of operation of the release button. A one-way valve is connected to the valve assembly that selectively permit air flow out of the socket. A valve insert is mountable on the socket and arranged to couple the valve body to the socket. The valve insert defines an opening configured to allow the shaft to extend through the valve insert and into the socket.

Actuator and artificial leg
11076971 · 2021-08-03 · ·

To propose a novel and improved actuator and artificial leg capable of miniaturizing an apparatus. An actuator (320) includes: a leaf spring (322) whose one end (322a) is cantilevered, the leaf spring being capable of deflection deformation in a plate thickness direction in accordance with torque by transmitting the torque; and a support member (324) configured to support a part of the leaf spring on a deflection direction side in a case where the torque transmitted by the leaf spring is greater than a predetermined value.

Quasi passive assistive device

Implementations of a quasi-passive assistive device are disclosed. Such a device may comprise a spring mechanism that increases stiffness similar to a biological ankle. In one implementation, the spring mechanism may comprise a piston, valve, springs, or other elements to match a biological stiffness profile similar to that of a biological ankle. In one implementation, an apparatus for an artificial ankle is disclosed, comprising a piston coupled to a spring and the piston connected to a valve. The spring and the piston may store energy during dorsiflexion of the ankle and the spring and the piston release energy during plantarflexion of the ankle. The piston may store and release energy through the use of the valve.

Pivot-flex foot

A prosthetic device is provided including (a) an ankle component, (b) a foot component coupled to the ankle component, wherein the foot component has a longitudinal length extending at least partially along a sagittal plane of a user when the prosthetic device is in use, wherein the foot component has a thickness extending at least partially along a transverse plane of a user when the prosthetic device is in use, and (c) a coupling mechanism positioned between the foot component and the ankle component, wherein the coupling mechanism couples a rotation of the foot component with respect to the sagittal plane to a rotation of the foot component with respect to the transverse plane.

SOLE OF ATHLETIC PROSTHETIC LEG
20210161683 · 2021-06-03 · ·

In a sole which is attached to a ground contact region of an athletic prosthetic leg which has a leaf-spring-like leg portion extending to a side of a toe via at least one curved portion, the ground contact region extending from the toe to a side of the curved portion in an arc, the sole includes a bottom surface having a shape conforming to an extending shape of the ground contact region, and, in the bottom surface, a region at the side of the curved portion, which is defined by a border as a line extending in a width direction of the leg portion through a contact point with a road surface in a standing state of a wearer who wears the athletic prosthetic leg, has a higher drainage performance compared with a region other than the region at the side of the curved portion.