Prosthetic ankle joint mechanism
US8574312B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 14, 2007 |
| Grant date | Nov 5, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 26, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61F2220/0033
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A self-aligning prosthetic foot and ankle assembly has an ankle unit pivotally mounting a foot component. The ankle unit contains a hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly having a piston which is linearly movable within a cylinder. The axis of the cylinder is coincident with a shin axis defined by a shin connection interface on the ankle unit. Bypass passages containing damping resistance control valves provide continuous hydraulic damping of dorsi and plantar ankle flexion, the unit being such that, over the major part of the range of damped movement, there is no resilient biasing in either the dorsi or the plantar direction. This confers a number of advantages, including stabilisation of standing, balance control, and improved stair-walking and ramp-walking.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.