Vacuum pump with shock absorption and controlled rotation for prosthetic devices

US7744653B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Otto Bock Healthcare LP · DE

Inventors

• Douglas E. Rush · Salt Lake City, US
• Nathan A. Williams · Salt Lake City, US
• Robert Edward Finlinson · Salt Lake City, US
• Luder Mosler · Duderstadt, DE
• Martin Hillmann · Duderstadt, DE
• Richard Skiera · Wien, AT

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 22, 2005
• Grant date: Jun 29, 2010
• Expiry date: Sep 19, 2028

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61F2002/805
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A vacuum pump having shock absorption and controlled rotation for use in an artificial limb. The pump includes a housing having a first chamber, and a shaft configured to be received by and to reciprocate within the first chamber, the housing and shaft forming a pump chamber. A piston may be coupled to the shaft and positioned within the pump chamber, and intake and exhaust ports are fluidly coupled to the pump chamber. Rotational structure is mounted with respect to the pump to provide controlled rotation of the shaft relative to the housing, and shock absorption structure is included within the pump to provide shock absorption for the shaft. Both a pneumatic spring and a mechanical spring element may be provided for the shock absorption structure. An optional adapter couples the shaft to the pylon of an integral pylon prosthetic foot.