Prosthetic knee joint
US5246465A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 19, 1991 |
| Grant date | Sep 21, 1993 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 19, 2011 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61F2002/701
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A robotic knee for mounting on an upper leg stump of an allows movement from a standing position to a normal walking position and then to a kneeling position and return to a standing position. A mounting plate receives the upper leg stump of an amputee. The knee includes a housing having a drive motor which can be rotated in one direction to bend the knee and then reversed to straighten the knee. The drive motor turns a worm gear which engages a main drive gear. A pair of extension pulleys is mounted on a main drive gear shaft attached to the main drive gear. A pair of extension cables is attached at a first end to the extension pulleys and wrapped thereon. A second end of the extension cables is attached to a front portion of a mounting plate. A pair of flexion pulleys is also attached to the main drive gear. A pair of flexion cables is attached at a first end to the flexion pulleys and wrapped thereon. A second end of the flexion cables is attached to a rear portion of the mounting plate. On a bottom of the mounting plate is disposed a rack with rack teeth. The rack teeth engage a walking gear segment, thereby allowing the mounting plate to be moved up and down in a rocking motio…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.