ORTHOPAEDIC JOINT AND ORTHOPAEDIC DEVICE

Abstract

The invention relates to an orthopedic joint with a first component, a second component that is arranged on the first component such that it can be swiveled about a swivel axis, and at least one damper that is configured and arranged to damp a swiveling of the first component relative to the second component, and an actuator for swiveling the first component relative to the second component in at least one direction. According to the invention, the actuator is arranged on the first component or the second component on a medial or lateral side such that it can be detached.

Claims

1. An orthopedic joint with a first component, a second component that is arranged on the first component such that it can be swiveled about a swivel axis, and an actuator for swiveling the first component relative to the second component in at least one direction, characterized in that the actuator is arranged on the first component or the second component on a medial or lateral side such that it can be detached.

2. The orthopedic joint of claim 1, wherein the joint has at least one damper that is configured and arranged to damp a swiveling of the first component relative to the second component.

3. The orthopedic joint of claim 2, characterized in that the damping caused by the damper can be adjusted, preferably during the swiveling of the first component relative to the second component.

4. The orthopedic joint of claim 1 characterized in that a drive shaft of the actuator extends parallel to the swivel axis.

5. The orthopedic joint of claim 1, characterized in that the actuator comprises a motor and a transmission, which each are preferably designed as one module, which can be detached from each other.

6. The orthopedic joint of claim 1, characterized in that the actuator features an elastic element, particularly a spring, such as a torsion spring, and/or a series elastic actuator and/or a parallel elastic actuator.

7. The orthopedic joint of claim 5, characterized in that the transmission is self-locking.

8. The orthopedic joint of claim 1, characterized in that the actuator comprises a battery module which is preferably arranged on the motor or transmission such that it can be detached.

9. The orthopedic joint of claim 1, characterized in that the actuator comprises a first coupling element which interacts with a second coupling element of the first component or the second component.

10. The orthopedic joint of claim 9, characterized in that the first coupling element is a driver, which can be brought into a first state, in which it interacts with the second coupling element in such a way that the actuator swivels the first component relative to the second component in a first direction, and a second state.

11. The orthopedic joint of claim 10, characterized in that the driver can be brought into a third state in which it interacts with the second coupling element in such a way that the actuator swivels the first component relative to the second component in a second direction.

12. The orthopedic joint of claim 1, characterized in that an interface between the actuator and the first component or the second component is waterproof.

13. The orthopedic joint of claim 1, characterized in that the joint is an orthotic joint, in particular an orthotic knee joint or an orthothic hip joint, or a prosthesis joint, in particular a prosthetic knee joint.

14. The orthopedic joint of claim 1, characterized in that the actuator can be brought into an active state and a passive state, wherein the damping is preferably reduced when the actuator is brought into the active state.

15. The orthopedic joint of claim 14, characterized in that the actuator can be brought from the passive state into the active state and/or vice versa by actuating an actuating element, in particular a switch, button or lever, a cable pull or cable, arranged on the joint, preferably on the actuator, or an electronic actuating element, for example in an app on a mobile electronic data processing device, in particular a smartphone.

16. The orthopedic joint of claim 14, characterized in that the joint has an electronic control system, in particular an electronic data processing device, and at least one sensor which is set up to detect a variable relevant to a movement of the joint, and the electronic control system is configured to control the actuator depending on the sensor data of the at least one sensor.

17. An orthopedic device, in particular an orthosis or a prosthesis, with at least one orthopedic joint according to claim 1.

18. An orthopedic joint with a first component; a second component that is arranged on the first component such that it can be swiveled about a swivel axis; at least one damper configured to damp a swiveling of the first component relative to the second component; and an actuator for swiveling the first component relative to the second component in at least one direction; wherein the actuator is arranged on the first component or the second component on a medial or lateral side such that it can be detached.

19. The orthopedic joint of claim 18, wherein the damper can be adjusted, preferably during the swiveling of the first component relative to the second component.

20. An orthopedic joint with a first component; a second component that is arranged on the first component such that it can be swiveled about a swivel axis; at least one damper configured to adjustably damp a swiveling of the first component relative to the second component; and an actuator with a motor, a transmission and an elastic element for swiveling the first component relative to the second component in at least one direction; wherein the actuator is arranged on the first component or the second component on a medial or lateral side such that it can be detached.

Description

[0034] In the following, an example of an embodiment of the present invention will be explained in more detail by way of the attached figures: They show

[0035] FIG. 1—the schematic representation of a joint according to a first example of an embodiment of the present invention,

[0036] FIG. 2—the schematic representation of the coupling of the actuator in an exploded representation, and

[0037] FIG. 3—a schematic representation of three different states of a coupling element.

[0038] FIG. 1 shows an orthopedic joint in the form of an artificial knee joint comprising a first component 2 and a second component 4 arranged thereon. In the example of an embodiment shown, a lower leg element may be arranged at the lower end of the first component 2, while a pyramid adapter 6 is arranged at the upper end of the second component 4, wherein further prosthesis components, for example an upper leg socket, can be arranged on said pyramid adaptor.

[0039] The joint features a damper, which is not depicted. The first component 2 is arranged relative to the second component 4 such that it can be swivelled about a swivel axis 8. The joint is an active joint that comprises an actuator 10 which features a transmission 12 and a motor 14 in the example of an embodiment shown. The transmission is arranged on a fastening element 16 and is designed to be easily detachable. The motor 14 is arranged on the transmission 12 such that it can be easily detached, so that, for example, the motor 14 alone or in combination with the transmission 12 can be exchanged for another embodiment of transmission and motor, for example.

[0040] The joint is designed to be symmetrical. While in FIG. 1 a transmission 12 and a motor 14 are arranged on the left-hand side on the fastening element 16, the right-hand side is also designed with a corresponding fastening element 16 without the components being arranged.

[0041] FIG. 2 depicts a section in an enlarged exploded representation. First, the fastening element 16 can be seen, which is arranged in a torque-proof manner on the first component 2 by means of screws 18. It has an annular projection 20 within which a second coupling element 22 is arranged, which is connected to the second component 4 such that it is torque-proof. On the transmission 12 there is a first coupling element 24 which, in the mounted state shown schematically in FIG. 1, projects into the annular projection 20. Depending on the position and orientation of the first coupling element 24 relative to the second coupling element 22, the various states of the coupling elements can be achieved.

[0042] This is shown schematically in FIG. 3. A schematic view along the swivel axis 8 is shown in each case. The annular projection 20 can be seen, in which the second coupling element 22 is located in the upper area in each case. In the left-hand representation, the first coupling element 24 is shown to be resting on the second coupling element 22, separated by an elastic damping element 26. If the motor 14 or another actuator 10 is now driven so that the first coupling element 24, which is connected to the transmission 12 or another component of the actuator 10 in a torque-proof manner, moves in an anti-clockwise direction, the second coupling element 22 will also move and drive the joint. If the actuator 10 is driven in the opposite direction, so that the first coupling element 24 moves in the clockwise direction, there is no torque transmission so that the joint is not driven.

[0043] A different representation is depicted in the middle part of FIG. 3. Here too, the second coupling element 22 is located in the upper part within the annular projection 20. The first coupling element 24 is now situated to the left of the second coupling element 22, also separated from said element by an elastic damping element 26. The second coupling element 22 is now moved when the actuator 10 is operated in such a way that the first coupling element 24 moves in the clockwise direction.

[0044] In the right-hand representation of FIG. 3, the first coupling element 24 is in no contact at all with one of the elastic damping elements 26. Regardless of the direction in which the first coupling element 24 is moved by the actuator 10, there is no movement of the second coupling element 22 and thus no actuation of the joint.

REFERENCE LIST

[0045] 2 first component [0046] 4 second component [0047] 6 pyramid adapter [0048] 8 swivel axis [0049] 10 actuator [0050] 12 transmission [0051] 14 motor [0052] 16 fastening element [0053] 18 screw [0054] 20 projection [0055] 22 second coupling element [0056] 24 first coupling element [0057] 26 elastic damping element