Prosthetic foot insert and prosthetic foot

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10299942-B2
Application number	US-201214006276-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 23, 2012
Priority date	Mar 23, 2011
Publication date	May 28, 2019
Grant date	May 28, 2019

Abstract

A prosthetic foot insert with upper attachment member, a roof spring extending forwards from the upper attachment means, and a base spring coupled to the roof spring at least two points. A rear coupling element is provided for supporting the base spring, and a free space is formed between the coupling element, the roof spring and the base spring. The base spring, in the heel area, protrudes rearwards as a free lever beyond the rear coupling element.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A prosthetic foot insert, comprising:
an upper attachment member;
a roof spring extending forward from the upper attachment member and a front end with an anterior-most edge;
a base spring;
a front coupling element extending between the base spring and the roof spring at the anterior-most edge of the roof spring;
a rear coupling element provided for supporting the base spring at a location spaced posterior of the front coupling element, the rear coupling element being arranged substantially in vertical alignment with the upper attachment member;
a free space formed between the front coupling element, the rear coupling element, the roof spring, and the base spring;
wherein a heel area of the base spring protrudes rearward as a free lever beyond a rear edge of the rear coupling element, and a ratio of a length of the base spring forward of the rear edge of the rear coupling element to a length of the free lever is in the range of about 4:1 to about 4.6:1;
wherein the base spring bends about an axis extending parallel to the base spring and perpendicular to a walking direction during a heel strike event to provide three point bending to move a middle portion along a length of the base spring away from the roof spring in the area of the free space during the heel strike event.

2. The prosthetic foot insert as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the base spring has a contour that is convex to the ground in a forefoot area.

3. The prosthetic foot insert as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the base spring and the roof spring are designed as a double spring arch, and the roof spring extends as the upper arch as far as the heel area of the base spring.

4. The prosthetic foot insert as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a downwardly bulging forefoot area of the base spring is adjoined by an upwardly bulging mid-foot area.

5. The prosthetic foot insert as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the free space present between the roof spring and the base spring decreases in size when a forefoot is loaded.

6. The prosthetic foot insert as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the rear coupling element is designed as a bulging heel spring or as an elastomeric element.

7. The prosthetic foot insert as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the roof spring, the base spring and the rear coupling element are formed in one piece.

8. The prosthetic foot insert as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the front coupling element is designed as an elastomeric element and arranged between a front end of the base spring and an upwardly sloping part of the base spring.

9. The prosthetic foot insert as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a vacuum pump arranged between the base spring and the roof spring.

10. The prosthetic foot insert as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the vacuum pump is designed as a coupling element or is part of a coupling element.

11. A prosthetic foot with the prosthetic foot insert as claimed in claim 1 and with a prosthetic foot cover having a sole area with different material thicknesses.

12. The prosthetic foot as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the sole area of the prosthetic foot cover is thicker in at least one of a forefoot area and a heel area than it is in a mid-foot area.

13. The prosthetic foot insert as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the upper attachment member is configured to connect the prosthetic foot insert to a lower limb prosthetic device, and the roof spring is monolithic.

14. The prosthetic foot insert as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the upper attachment member in its entirety is positioned vertically above a top surface of the roof spring, and the roof spring is monolithic.

15. A prosthetic foot insert, comprising:
an upper attachment member;
a roof spring connected to the upper attachment member and having a front end with an anterior-most edge;
a base spring;
a front coupling element extending between the base spring and the roof spring at the anterior-most edge of the roof spring;
a rear coupling element extending between the base spring and the roof spring at a location spaced posterior of the front coupling element, the rear coupling element substantially vertically aligned with the upper attachment member;
a free space formed between the front coupling element, the rear coupling element, the roof spring, and the base spring;
wherein a heel area of the base spring protrudes rearward as a free lever beyond a rear edge of the rear coupling element, and a ratio of a length of the base spring forward of the rear edge of the rear coupling element to a length of the free lever is in the range of about 4:1 to about 4.6:1;
wherein the base spring bends about an axis extending parallel to the base spring and perpendicular to a walking direction during a heel strike event to provide three point bending to move a middle portion along a length of the base spring away from the roof spring in the area of the free space during the heel strike event.

16. The prosthetic foot insert as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the base spring has a contour that is convex to the ground in a forefoot area.

17. The prosthetic foot insert as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the base spring and the roof spring are designed as a double spring arch, and the roof spring extends as the upper arch as far as the heel area of the base spring.

18. The prosthetic foot insert as claimed in claim 15 , wherein a downwardly bulging forefoot area of the base spring is adjoined by an upwardly bulging mid-foot area.

19. The prosthetic foot insert as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the free space present between the roof spring and the base spring decreases in size when a forefoot is loaded.

20. The prosthetic foot insert as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the rear coupling element is designed as a bulging heel spring or as an elastomeric element.

21. The prosthetic foot insert as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the roof spring, the rear base spring and the coupling element are formed in one piece.

22. The prosthetic foot insert as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the front coupling element is designed as an elastomeric element and arranged between a front end of the base spring and an upwardly sloping part of the base spring.

23. A prosthetic foot insert, comprising:
an upper attachment member;
a roof spring extending forward from the upper attachment member and having a front end with an anterior-most edge;
a base spring;
a front coupling element extending between the base spring and the roof spring at the anterior-most edge of the roof spring;
a rear coupling element provided for supporting the base spring at a location spaced posterior of the front coupling element, the rear coupling element being substantially positioned in vertical alignment with the upper attachment member;
a free space formed between the front coupling element, the rear coupling element, the roof spring, and the base spring;
wherein a heel area of the base spring protrudes rearward as a free lever beyond a rear edge of the rear coupling element, and a ratio of a length of the base spring forward of the rear edge of the rear coupling element to a length of the free lever is in the range of about 4:1 to about 4.6:1;
wherein the base spring bends about an axis extending parallel to the base spring and perpendicular to a walking direction during a heel strike event to provide three point bending to move a middle portion along a length of the base spring away from the roof spring in the area of the free space during the heel strike ev

Assignees

• Mosler Lueder
• Moenicke Carsten
• Ottobock Se & Co Kgaa

Inventors

• Mosler Lüder
• Mönicke Carsten

Classifications

• A61F2002/503

  for adjusting elasticity, flexibility, spring rate or mechanical tension · CPC title

• A61F2002/742

  Human Necessities · mapped topic

• A61F2/66 Primary

  Feet; Ankle joints · CPC title

• A61F2002/5079

  Leaf springs (A61F2002/6657 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61F2002/501

  having an inflatable pocket filled with fluid, i.e. liquid or gas · CPC title