Patent · US Active

System and method for motion-controlled foot unit

US7637957B2 · kind B2 · utility

112Cited by
128References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 8, 2008
Grant dateDec 29, 2009
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 8, 2028

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61F2013/00455
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A system and method associated with the movement of a limb. In one example, the system, such as a prosthetic or orthotic system, includes an actuator that actively controls, or adjusts, the angle between a foot unit and a lower limb member. A processing module may control movement of the actuator based on data obtained from a sensor module. For instance, sensing module data may include information relating to the gait of a user and may be used to adjust the foot unit to substantially mimic the movement of a natural, healthy ankle. The system may further accommodate, for example, level ground walking, traveling up/down stairs, traveling up/down sloped surfaces, and various other user movements. In addition, the processing module may receive user input or display output signals through an external interface. For example, the processing module may receive a heel height input from the user.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.