PROSTHETIC SYSTEM, JOINT PROTECTION DEVICE, AND COVER ELEMENT

Abstract

A prosthetic system with a prosthesis, which has two prosthetic parts that are pivotally connected together about a joint axis via a prosthetic joint with a joint upper part and with a joint lower part, and a cover element, which at least partly covers a gap between the two prosthetic parts or between one prosthetic part and the joint lower part. The cover element is pivotally mounted about a pivot axis on one prosthetic part, a component of a cosmetic prosthetic element, said component being secured to one prosthetic part or one joint part or the prosthetic joint and is coupled to the joint upper part of the prosthetic joint via at least one coupling element in a form- and/or force-fitting manner such that a pivotal movement of the prosthetic parts about the joint axis leads to a simultaneous pivotal movement of the cover element about the pivot axis.

Claims

1. A prosthesis system having a prosthesis, which has two prosthesis parts connected to each other pivotably about a joint axis via a prosthesis joint with a joint upper part and a joint lower part, and having a cover element (26) which at least partially covers a gap (38) between the two prosthesis parts or between one prosthesis part and the joint lower part, wherein the cover element is mounted pivotably about a pivot axis on a prosthesis part, on a component of a prosthesis cosmetic secured to a prosthesis part or joint part, or on the prosthesis joint and is coupled to the joint upper part of the prosthesis joint via at least one coupling element in a form-fitting and/or force-fitting manner, such that a pivoting movement of the prosthesis parts about the joint axis leads to a simultaneous pivoting movement of the cover element about the pivot axis.

2. The prosthesis system of claim 1, wherein the cover element is part of a multi-part joint protection device which is secured on the prosthesis joint, on one of the prosthesis parts or on the prosthesis cosmetic in a form-fitting and/or force-fitting manner and has a visor on which the cover element is mounted pivotably about the pivot axis.

3. The prosthesis system of claim 2, wherein the joint protection device has a carrier on which the cover element and/or the visor is secured.

4. The prosthesis system of claim 2, wherein the cover element, the visor or the carrier has form-fit and/or force-fit elements via which the joint protection device is secured on the prosthesis joint, on one of the prosthesis parts or on the prosthesis cosmetic.

5. The prosthesis system of claim 2, wherein the joint protection device has a clasp-shaped design and is secured, in particular via a snap-fit connection, on the prosthesis joint, on one of the prosthesis parts or on the prosthesis cosmetic.

6. The prosthesis system of claim 2, wherein the joint protection device is secured releasably on the prosthesis joint, on one of the prosthesis parts or on the prosthesis cosmetic.

7. The prosthesis system of claim 2, wherein the visor and/or the carrier at least partially project over the gap between the two prosthesis parts.

8. The prosthesis system of claim 2, wherein the visor is secured on the carrier, on the prosthesis joint, on one of the prosthesis parts or on the prosthesis cosmetic so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis, the pivot axes of the visor and of the cover element preferably coinciding.

9. The prosthesis system of claim 8, wherein the visor and the cover element are additionally coupled to each other via at least one driver, or wherein the at least one driver is arranged on the cover element and, by pivoting of the cover element relative to the visor, can be brought into engagement with a corresponding element of the visor.

10. The prosthesis system of claim 9, wherein, by the coupling of the visor and of the cover element during a flexion about the prosthesis joint, the gap is covered over a greater range than would be possible by means of the visor or cover element alone.

11. The prosthesis system of claim 1, wherein the pivot axis of the cover element and the joint axis of the prosthesis joint coincide.

12. The prosthesis system of claim 1, wherein the at least one coupling element (28) is designed in one piece with the cover element (26), in particular in the form of a web, a clasp or a clip.

13. The prosthesis system of claim 1, wherein the at least one coupling element is latched or clamped onto the joint upper part.

14-16. (canceled)

17. A prosthesis system comprising: a prosthesis with two prosthesis parts pivotably connected to each other about a joint axis via a prosthesis joint, the joint including a joint upper part and a joint lower part; and a cover element which at least partially covers a gap between the two prosthesis parts; wherein the cover element is mounted pivotably about a pivot axis on a prosthesis part, on a component of a prosthesis cosmetic secured to a prosthesis part or joint part, or on the prosthesis joint and is coupled to the joint upper part of the prosthesis joint via at least one coupling element in a form-fitting and/or force-fitting manner, such that a pivoting movement of the prosthesis parts about the joint axis leads to a simultaneous pivoting movement of the cover element about the pivot axis; and wherein the cover element is part of a multi-part joint protection device which further comprises a visor on which the cover element is mounted pivotably about the pivot axis.

18. The prosthesis system of claim 17, wherein the cover element, the visor or the carrier has form-fit and/or force-fit elements via which the joint protection device is secured on the prosthesis joint, on one of the prosthesis parts, or on the prosthesis cosmetic.

19. The prosthesis system of claim 17, wherein the joint protection device has a clasp-shaped design and is secured via a snap-fit connection on the prosthesis joint, on one of the prosthesis parts, or on the prosthesis cosmetic.

20. The prosthesis system of claim 17, wherein the joint protection device is secured releasably on the prosthesis joint, on one of the prosthesis parts, or on the prosthesis cosmetic.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0056] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

[0057] FIG. 1 shows a prosthesis joint with a joint protection device in three different states,

[0058] FIG. 2 shows a first embodiment of a joint protection device with cover element and visor,

[0059] FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of a carrier for a joint protection device,

[0060] FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of a joint protection device with carrier, visor and cover element,

[0061] FIG. 5 shows a section through a part of a prosthesis in an embodiment of the prosthesis system, and

[0062] FIG. 6 shows a detail of an embodiment of the prosthesis system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0063] FIG. 1 shows a prosthesis joint 4 of a prosthesis for a lower extremity. In the present case, the prosthesis joint 4 is the prosthetic knee joint of a prosthetic leg. The prosthesis joint 4 has a joint upper part 6. A pyramid adapter 8 for attachment of a proximal prosthesis part, for example a prosthesis socket of the prosthetic leg, is arranged on the joint upper part 6, the latter also being designated as the joint head. The prosthesis joint 4 also has a joint lower part 10. The joint lower part 10 and the joint upper part 6 are pivotable relative to each other about a joint axis. The distal prosthesis part, for example a lower-leg tube or a prosthetic foot, is secured on the joint lower part 10.

[0064] In the picture on the left, the joint upper part 6 is shown pivoted relative to the distal prosthesis part and thus at the same time relative to the joint lower joint part 10. This is the state of a flexion about the joint axis of approximately 90°. The prosthesis part can have a prosthesis cosmetic.

[0065] The joint lower part 10 has two projections 12, which are not rotationally symmetrical about the joint axis; only one of the projections 12 can be seen in the picture on the left in FIG. 1. If the distal prosthesis part has a prosthesis cosmetic, the latter can use these projections 12 for a form-fit hold on the prosthesis joint 4.

[0066] In the middle picture, the prosthesis joint 4 is shown with a maximally extended joint upper part 6. In this picture, a carrier 14 of a joint protection device 16 is arranged on the prosthesis joint 4. The carrier 14 has structures 18 (shown first in FIG. 3) which correspond to the projections 12.

[0067] The carrier 14 is secured releasably on the prosthesis joint 4 and in particular on the joint lower part 10 via the projections 12 and corresponding structures 18. On account of the non-rotationally symmetrical shape of the projections 12 and of the correspondingly configured structures 18 of the carrier 14, the carrier 14 is secured relative to the prosthesis joint 4 and the joint lower part 10 and is not pivotable relative thereto.

[0068] The carrier 14 has two connection elements 20, of which only one can be seen in the middle picture in FIG. 1. These correspond to attachment elements 22 (shown in FIG. 2) of the joint protection device 16. The attachment elements 22 are designed as form-fit elements that correspond to the connection elements 20 of the carrier 14. This creates a releasable connection between the joint protection device and the carrier 14. The attachment elements 22 are preferably at the same time the physical axes of cover element and visor.

[0069] In the picture on the right in FIG. 1, the prosthesis joint 4 is shown with the joint protection device 16 arranged completely thereon. The joint protection device 16 has the carrier 14, a visor 24 and a cover element 26.

[0070] The cover element 26 has a coupling element 28, which in the present case is designed in one piece with the cover element 26.

[0071] The coupling element 28 is designed in this embodiment as a web that extends dorsally or to the rear. In addition, the coupling element 28 has a portion 30 that extends distally or downward. This portion 30 has a contact face 32 (not shown in FIG. 1) with which the coupling element 28 bears on the joint upper part 6. The portion 30 has a curvature corresponding to the curvature of the joint upper part 6.

[0072] On account of the geometry of the coupling element 28 as shown, the latter not only bears on the joint upper part 6 but also engages with the latter in the manner of a snap-fit mechanism. In this way, the cover element 26 is coupled to the joint upper part 6 via the coupling element 28. Alternatively or in addition, it is possible that the coupling element 28 is clamped between the joint upper part 6 and a proximal prosthesis part (not shown in FIG. 1) attached to the pyramid adapter 8.

[0073] In addition, the prosthesis joint from FIG. 1 has a damping device 34, which is coupled to the two joint parts 6, 10.

[0074] If the prosthesis joint 4 executes a pivoting movement from the position shown in the middle and right pictures to the position shown in the left picture, the cover element 26 performs a simultaneous pivoting movement about the pivot axis S on account of the coupling to the joint upper part 6 via the coupling element 28. In this way, the gap existing between the joint lower part 10 or a distal prosthesis component (not shown) and the proximal prosthesis part (not shown), and increasing in size in the course of the pivoting movement, is at least partially, in particular completely, covered ventrally.

[0075] The attachment elements 22 can be secured on the carrier 14 via the connection elements 20 such that it cannot execute any movement relative thereto. The cover element 26 and the visor 24 can still be made pivotable about the attachment elements 22. However, in a further embodiment, it is also possible for the visor 24 to be arranged pivotably on the carrier 14 about a pivot axis via the attachment elements 22 and the connection elements 20. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the pivot axis of the visor 24 and pivot axis S of the cover element 26 coincide. Their physical axes are preferably also identical. At the same time, these pivot axes also coincide with the joint axis of the prosthesis joint 4.

[0076] The cover element 26 preferably has a driver which is either permanently coupled to the visor 24 or can be brought into engagement with a corresponding element of the visor 24. By means of the at least one driver, it is possible for the visor 24 to be driven from the cover element 26 by up to a certain degree of pivoting relative to the joint lower part. In another embodiment, the at least one driver makes it possible that the cover element 26, preferably starting from a certain degree of pivoting relative to the joint lower part 10, also brings about a pivoting of the visor 24 relative to the joint lower part 10 or the distal prosthesis component. This is particularly useful when the prosthesis joint 4 permits a pivoting in which the resulting gap between the proximal prosthesis part and the joint lower part 10 is no longer able to be covered by the cover element 26 alone. The additional pivoting of the visor 24 thus ensures additional covering of the resulting gap, and therefore shielding of the prosthesis joint 4 from environmental influences.

[0077] FIG. 2 shows the combination of a cover element 26 and a visor 24. These already form an independent embodiment of a joint protection device 16 within the meaning of the present invention. However, the joint protection device 16 preferably moreover has a carrier 14 on which the visor 24 and thus also the cover element 26 are arranged.

[0078] The visor 24 and the cover element 26 are preferably connected to each other in such a way that they are not separable without being destroyed. For this purpose, the attachment elements 22 are preferably at the same time the physical axes about which cover element and visor are pivotable. These attachment elements 22 are constructed in two parts and screwed together. Without release of this screwed connection, cover element 26 and visor 24 cannot then be separated from each other without being destroyed. The visor 24 and cover element 26 shown in FIG. 2 correspond to the embodiment from FIG. 1. In addition, FIG. 2 shows in more detail the attachment elements 22 for joining to the connection elements 20 of the carrier 14.

[0079] The cover element 26 is mounted pivotably on the visor 24 about two joints 36. These joints 36 can at the same time be the attachment elements 22. As has already been mentioned with respect to FIG. 1, the cover element 26 has a coupling element 28. The latter has a distally extending portion 30, and also a contact face 32 for the joint upper part 6 of a prosthesis joint 4.

[0080] FIG. 3 shows the carrier 14 of a joint protection device 16. The carrier 14 from FIG. 3 corresponds to the embodiment from FIG. 1.

[0081] FIG. 3 reveals one of the two structures 18 via which the carrier 14 can be secured on a prosthesis cosmetic or on the prosthesis joint 4, in particular on the joint lower part 10 of the prosthesis joint 4. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the carrier 14 is secured on the joint lower part 10 via the structures 18 and the corresponding projections 12.

[0082] The carrier 14 is preferably made of an elastic plastic, such that the carrier 14 can be widened slightly in order to be placed on the prosthesis joint 4, in particular on the joint lower part 10, and the restoring force of the material brings the carrier 14 back to its original shape. It is thus possible for the carrier 14 to be clamped on particularly easily, for example on the prosthesis joint 4, in particular on the joint lower part 10.

[0083] FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the joint protection device 16 with carrier 14, visor 24 and cover element 26. The carrier 14 corresponds to the embodiment from FIG. 3, and the combination of visor 24 and cover element 26 corresponds to the embodiment from FIG. 2. FIG. 4 shows schematically how the visor 24 is secured on the carrier 14 or on a component of the prosthesis cosmetic.

[0084] The visor 24 and the cover element 26 have a clasp-shaped design and are made of an elastic material, in particular a plastic. Through widening of the joint protection device 16, the latter can be easily placed onto the carrier 14 or a component of the prosthesis cosmetic, such that the attachment elements 22 of the joint protection device 16 and the connection elements 20 of the carrier 14 are made congruent. These attachment elements 22, designed as form-fit elements, then simply have to be clamped into place by pressing them into the connection elements 20. This is indicated by the arrows.

[0085] FIG. 5 shows a section through a part of a prosthesis 3 of a prosthesis system 2 in a flexed state, in which the gap 38 between the proximal prosthesis part 40 and the joint lower part 10 is clearly illustrated. For the sake of clarity, no cover element 26 or joint protection device 16 is shown. A distal prosthesis part 42 (not shown in the detail), for example a lower-leg tube or a foot, is secured on the joint lower part 10. The proximal prosthesis part 40 is secured on the joint upper part 6 via an adapter 44.

[0086] FIG. 6 shows a detail of an embodiment of the prosthesis system 2 with the prosthesis 3 and the cover element 26, where the cover element 26 is part of a joint protection device 16. The joint protection device 16 moreover has a visor 24. By way of joints 36, which at the same time are attachment elements 22, the joint protection device 16 is mounted pivotably on a prosthesis cosmetic 46, which is secured to the joint lower part 10 and in the present case is designed as a protector. The joints 36 are the physical axes, namely axle bolts or axle journals, about which both the cover element 26 and the visor 24 are mounted pivotably on the prosthesis cosmetic 46, which is secured on the joint lower part 10. The proximal prosthesis part 40 is secured to the non-visible joint upper part 6 via an adapter 44. A distal prosthesis part 42, which in the present case is designed as a lower-leg tube, is arranged on the joint lower part 10.

[0087] FIG. 6 shows a bent or flexed state of the prosthesis 3 of the prosthesis system 2. In the maximally extended state, cover element 26 and visor 24 lie almost completely over each other. As flexion increases in the embodiment shown, visor 24 and cover element 26 initially move equally. This is because the cover element 26 is connected to the joint upper part 6 via the non-visible coupling element 28, and the cover element 26 is coupled to the visor 24 via a likewise non-visible driver.

[0088] Starting from approximately a pivoting angle of 50°, cover element 26 and visor 24 no longer cover the joint lower part 10 and the prosthesis cosmetic 46 ventrally, with the result that a gap forms as the flexion increases. The mechanics of the joint protection device 16 are preferably such that, starting from a pivoting angle of approximately 75°, the visor 24 remains stationary, i.e. does not pivot any farther with respect to the joint lower part 10 or the prosthesis cosmetic 46. Starting from this pivoting angle, only the cover element 26 continues to be pivoted, such that visor 24 and cover element 26 fold apart. This state is shown in FIG. 6. The pivoting angle here is more than 90°.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0089] 2 prosthesis system
3 prosthesis
4 prosthesis joint
6 joint upper part
8 pyramid adapter
10 joint lower part
12 projection
14 carrier
16 joint protection device
18 structure
20 connection element
22 attachment element
24 visor
26 cover element
28 coupling element
30 portion
32 contact face
34 damping device
36 joint
38 gap
40 proximal prosthesis part
42 distal prosthesis part
44 adapter
46 prosthesis cosmetic
S pivot axis