Abstract
A prosthesis for a lower extremity, the prosthesis including a first prosthesis component and a second prosthesis component, wherein the first prosthesis component can be locked relative to the second prosthesis component by way of at least one locking element, wherein the prosthesis comprises at least one holding device, by way of which the first prosthesis component is detachably held on the second prosthesis component.
Claims
1. A prosthesis for a lower extremity, the prosthesis comprising: a first prosthesis component; a second prosthesis component; at least one locking element to lock the first prosthesis component relative to the second prosthesis component; at least one holding device, by way of which the first prosthesis component is detachably held on the second prosthesis component, the at least one holding device having a first holding element arranged on the first prosthesis component, and a second holding element arranged on the second prosthesis component, the first holding element having a projection with a first bore, the second holding element having a base body with a second bore, the at least one locking element engaging the first and second bores to lock the first holding element to the second holding element.
2. (canceled)
3. The prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein the first holding element and the second holding element are positive-locking elements that are designed to correspond to one another.
4. The prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein the first holding element exerts a magnetic holding force on the second holding element.
5. The prosthesis according to claim 4, wherein at least one of the first holding element and the second holding element comprise at least one permanent magnet.
6. The prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein the first holding element is arranged on a first contact element and the second holding element is arranged on a second contact element, wherein the first and second contact elements lie next to one another when the first prosthesis component is locked relative to the second prosthesis component.
7. The prosthesis according to claim 6, wherein the first contact element features a projection and the second contact element features a recess that is designed to correspond to the projection.
8. The prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein the holding device can be released with one hand and without a tool.
9. The prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the prosthesis components can only be locked when the at least one holding device is holding the prosthesis components together and the at least one holding device can only be released when the prosthesis components are unlocked.
10. A connection device for a prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein the connection device comprises the at least one holding device and the at least one locking element, the at least one holding device having the first holding element arranged on the first prosthesis component and the second holding element arranged on the second prosthesis component.
11. A prosthesis for a lower extremity, the prosthesis comprising: a first prosthesis component; a second prosthesis component; a locking element to lock the first prosthesis component relative to the second prosthesis component; a holding device to connect the first prosthesis component to the second prosthesis component, the holding device having a first holding element arranged on the first prosthesis component and having a projection with a first bore, and a second holding element arranged on the second prosthesis component and having a base body with a second bore, the locking element insertable into the first and second bores to secure the first holding element to the second holding element.
12. The prosthesis according to claim 11, wherein the first holding element and the second holding element are positive-locking elements that mate with one another.
13. The prosthesis according to claim 11, wherein the first holding element exerts a magnetic holding force on the second holding element.
14. The prosthesis according to claim 11, wherein at least one of the first holding element and the second holding element comprise a permanent magnet.
15. The prosthesis according to claim 11, wherein the first holding element is arranged on a first contact element and the second holding element is arranged on a second contact element, the first and second contact elements arranged next to each other when the first prosthesis component is secured relative to the second prosthesis component.
16. The prosthesis according to claim 15, wherein the first contact element includes a projection and the second contact element includes a recess that mates with the projection.
17. The prosthesis according to claim 11, wherein the holding device is configured to be released with one hand and without a tool.
18. The prosthesis according to claim 11, wherein at least one of the prosthesis components can only be locked when the holding device is holding the prosthesis components together and the holding device can only be released when the prosthesis components are unlocked.
19. A connection device for a prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein the connection device comprises the holding device and the locking element.
Description
[0019] 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:
[0020] FIG. 1a connection device according to a first example of an embodiment of the present invention when in the unconnected state,
[0021] FIG. 2the connection device from FIG. 1 in the connected state,
[0022] FIG. 3the connection device in a first sectional view,
[0023] FIG. 4the connection device in a second sectional view,
[0024] FIGS. 5 to 11schematic depictions of the changing a prosthetic foot of a prosthesis according to a further example of an embodiment of the present invention, and
[0025] FIGS. 12 to 14connection devices integrated in prosthesis components.
[0026] FIG. 1 depicts a connection device 1 according to a first example of an embodiment of the present invention. It has a first holding element 2, a second holding element 4 and a locking element 6. The first holding element 2 can be connected to a first prosthesis component, not depicted here, via a fixing element; in the example of an embodiment shown, said fixing element is a pyramid adapter 8. Screws 10 are depicted on the second holding element 4 by means of which the second holding element 4 can be fixed to a second prosthesis component, also not depicted here. The first holding element 2 features a projection 12, which can be inserted into a recess 14 provided in the second holding element 4. In this state, bores provided in both the projection 12 and a base body 16 of the second holding element 4 are moved to overlap with one another in such a way that the locking element 6 is inserted into the bores and can be fixed via an outer thread 18, which is designed to correspond to an inner thread provided in one of the bores.
[0027] This situation is depicted in FIG. 2. The first holding element 2, which is inserted in the second holding element 4, is clearly recognizable. The locking element 6 has also been inserted into the bores, not depicted here, and screwed in via the thread.
[0028] FIG. 3 shows the situation in a sectional view. The outer thread 18 of the locking element 6 engages with an inner thread 20 in a bore 22 in the base body 16 of the second holding element 4. In the example of an embodiment shown, the bore 22 is designed to be conical. This is advantageous but not absolutely necessary. A corresponding bore 24 is situated in the first holding element 2, said bore extending completely through the first holding element 2 in the example of an embodiment shown. The locking element 6 protrudes through the two bores 22, 24, thereby locking together both holding elements 2, 4 and therefore also prosthesis componentsnot depicted herearranged on these holding elements 2, 4.
[0029] FIG. 4 depicts a sectional view through the situation shown in FIG. 2, rotated by 90 relative to the section in FIG. 3. One is now looking along the direction of longitudinal extension of the locking element 6, which is situated in the bore 24 in the first holding element 2.
[0030] In the example of an embodiment shown, the second holding element 4 features a metal plate 26, which is arranged at the base of the recess 14 in which the projection 12 of the first holding element 2 is situated. In the example of an embodiment shown, two permanent magnets 28 are arranged in this projection 12; said magnets exert a holding force on the metal plate 26. Of course, further permanent magnets may also be provided in lieu of the metal plate 26. This renders it possible for the connection device to exert a holding force between the two holding elements 2, 4.
[0031] FIG. 5 depicts a prosthesis according to an example of an embodiment of the present invention. It features an artificial knee 30 to which an artificial lower leg 32 is attached; a foot 34 in a shoe is arranged on said artificial lower leg. Another embodiment of the present invention relates to a lower leg prosthesis for patients who still have a natural knee joint. In this case, the following configurations apply analogously and can also be transferred to other configuration examples. The connection device is situated between the foot 34 and the artificial lower leg 32; of said connection device, only an activation element 36 of the locking element 6 is depicted in the view shown. If the foot 34 is now to be swapped, the locking element 6 must first be released along the arrow direction 38 depicted in FIG. 6. By rotating the activation element 36 and thus the locking element 6 in the arrow direction 38, the outer thread 18 is disengaged from the inner thread 20. It is then possible, as shown in FIG. 7, to remove the locking element 6 from the bore 22 and the bore 24, not depicted. It is clear that it is not necessary to hold the foot 34 as a holding force is applied by the two holding elements 2, 4 that form the holding device. As a result, the foot 34 cannot fall off.
[0032] FIG. 8 depicts the released state. Permanent magnets 28 are arranged in the projection 12 of the first holding element 2 and in the recess 14 of the second holding element 4, said permanent magnets exerting an attractive force on one another. This is only schematically indicated. The locking element 6 is still removed from the bores 22, 24.
[0033] The foot 34 is now removed from the rest of the prosthesis and can be swapped. In FIG. 9, a new foot 34 is already provided; said foot is to be assembled. To this end, the second holding element 4not depicted herearranged on said foot is engaged with the first holding element 2, which is situated on the artificial lower leg 32, in such a way that a holding force is exerted by the two holding elements 2,4 that form the holding device. To this end, the first holding element 2 must be moved along the arrow direction 38 in FIG. 9 and the second holding element 4 along the arrow direction 38 in FIG. 10. As shown in FIG. 11, the locking element 6not depictedcan subsequently be inserted into the bores 22, 24 and locked along the arrow direction 38 in FIG. 11.
[0034] FIGS. 12a and 12b depict an artificial lower leg 32 as a first prosthesis component, at the upper end of which an artificial knee 30 is arranged. The first holding element 2 is integrated at the lower end, wherein FIG. 12a depicts the projection 12 in which the bore 24 for the locking element 6not depicted in FIGS. 12a and 12bis situated. An artificial foot 34 is depicted as a second prosthesis component, at the upper end of which the second holding element 4 is integrated. The projection 12 of the first holding element 2 is inserted into its recess 14. FIG. 12b shows the configuration in the connected state. In comparison with an embodiment with a conventional artificial lower leg that is connected to a conventional artificial foot, wherein the first holding element 2 and the second holding element 4 are designed as separate components arranged on the respective prosthesis components, this allows up to 80 mm installation height and up to 300 g in weight per prosthesis to be saved.
[0035] FIGS. 13a and 13b show two further prosthesis components. The artificial foot 34 is depicted, which is to be connected to a so-called casting adapter 40. A casting adapter renders it possible to arrange further components on a prosthesis socket that is yet to be produced, not depicted in FIGS. 13a and 13b. This casting adapter 40 has four arms 42, which can be cast in the material of the prosthesis socket, for example. Casting adapters 40 with different numbers of arms 42 are available. Casting adapters without arms 42 are also used. The projection 12 of the first holding element 2 is again situated on the lower side of the casting adapter 40, wherein the bore 24 for the locking element 6 is depicted in said projection. The second holding element 4 with the recess 14 is situated on the artificial foot 34. The locking element 6 is also shown, by way of which the two holding elements 2, 4 are locked together. FIG. 13a depicts the unconnected state and FIG. 13b the connected state.
[0036] With the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 13a and 13b, up to 40 mm installation height and up to 100 g in weight per prosthesis can be saved. For example, if used in a knee joint, 40 mm installation height and up to 200 g in weight can be saved.
[0037] FIGS. 14a to 14b show another embodiment. The depiction corresponds to the depictions in FIGS. 12a and 12b. The first holding element 2 with the projection 12 is arranged on the artificial lower leg 32, while the second holding element 4 with the recess 14 is positioned on the artificial foot 34. The locking element 6 can also be seen, which is guided through the bore 24 depicted in FIG. 14a when in the locked state. With such configurations, a large installation height of 80 to 90 mm can be saved, for example, because a conventional double adapter with a system height of 82 mm alone can then be replaced.
REFERENCE LIST
[0038] 2 first holding element [0039] 4 second holding element [0040] 6 locking element [0041] 8 pyramid adapter [0042] 10 screw [0043] 12 projection [0044] 14 recess [0045] 16 base body [0046] 18 outer thread [0047] 20 inner thread [0048] 22 bore [0049] 24 bore [0050] 26 metal plate [0051] 28 permanent magnet [0052] 30 artificial knee [0053] 32 artificial lower leg [0054] 34 foot [0055] 36 activation element [0056] 38 arrow direction [0057] 40 casting adapter [0058] 42 arm
