Knee rotational adapter

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10420656-B2
Application number	US-201715435624-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 17, 2017
Priority date	Feb 7, 2013
Publication date	Sep 24, 2019
Grant date	Sep 24, 2019

Abstract

A prosthetic adapter including a lower connector, an upper connector rotatably coupled to the lower connector, and a locking mechanism for preventing the upper connector from rotating relative to the lower connector. The locking mechanism is arranged to generally automatically retain a locked position when the lower connector is rotated to an original, predetermined alignment. An activation member is connected to and arranged for operating the locking mechanism.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A prosthetic adapter, comprising:
a lower connector having a first receiving hole, a first portion located on a first side of the first receiving hole, a second portion located on a second side of the first receiving hole, and a guide hole, the first and second portions located on opposite sides of the first receiving hole in a transverse plane and arranged such that the guide hole extends completely within and is defined by a thickness of the lower connector from the first portion to the second portion;
an upper connector rotatably coupled to the lower connector;
a locking mechanism, at the second portion of the lower connector, for preventing the upper connector from rotating relative to the lower connector, the locking mechanism arranged to automatically retain a locked position when the lower connector is rotated to an original, predetermined alignment relative to the upper connector;
and an activation member connected to and arranged for operating the locking mechanism.

2. The prosthetic adapter of claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism includes a housing located at a top surface of the lower connector, and includes a locking member and at least one guide member arranged to receive the locking member.

3. The prosthetic adapter of claim 2 , wherein the locking member is arranged to be urged into the locked position via an elastic return member coupled to a push rod in relation to the upper connector.

4. The prosthetic adapter of claim 3 , wherein the upper connector forms a stop detent on a base portion thereof, the locking member is arranged to selectively engage the stop detent.

5. The prosthetic adapter of claim 2 , wherein the activation member includes a lock cap secured to the locking member so the lock cap moves with the locking member from the locked position to an unlocked position.

6. The prosthetic adapter of claim 1 , further comprising a release mechanism at the first portion of the lower connector and having an actuator coupled to and arranged for driving the activation member from a first position to a second position, wherein the activation member is configured to automatically return to the first position upon release of the release mechanism, the actuator located on the first portion of the lower connector and arranged to move relative thereto and urge a push rod from the first portion to the second portion of the lower connector through the guide hole formed by the lower connector, apart from the first receiving hole, to move a position of the activation member.

7. The prosthetic adapter of claim 1 , further comprising a first bearing ring connected between the upper connector and the lower connector.

8. The prosthetic adapter of claim 7 , wherein the lower connector defines a recess arranged for receiving the first bearing ring.

9. The prosthetic adapter of claim 1 , further comprising a retaining cap extending through the first receiving hole defined by the lower connector and a second receiving hole defined by the upper connector from a first direction, and a securing member secures to the retaining cap and extends into the first receiving hole from a second direction.

10. The prosthetic adapter of claim 9 , further comprising a second bearing ring provided between the retaining cap and the upper connector, and arranged to permit rotational movement of the lower connector relative to the upper connector when the retaining cap is adjusted.

11. The prosthetic adapter of claim 1 , further comprising an actuator arranged as an outer adjustment ring attached to the upper connector and connects to the activation member for selective engagement of the locking mechanism.

12. The prosthetic adapter of claim 11 , wherein the locking mechanism includes a locking member and the activation member engages the locking member, an elastomeric return member engages the activation member for automatically returning the locking member to the locked position.

13. The prosthetic adapter of claim 1 , further comprising a stop detent located on an outer periphery of a top surface of the lower connector and configured for engagement with a locking member.

14. The prosthetic adapter of claim 13 , wherein the locking mechanism further comprises a guide member on a periphery of a base portion of the upper connector for guiding the locking member into proper alignment with the stop detent as it is moved between the locked and an unlocked position.

15. A prosthetic knee assembly, comprising:
a knee joint for providing flexion and extension to upper and lower leg prostheses, and connecting to a lower leg prosthesis;
a prosthetic adapter connected to an upper end of the knee joint, the prosthetic adapter having lower and upper connectors, the upper connector rotatably secured to the lower connector at a receiving hole, the lower connector having a first portion located on a first side of the receiving hole, a second portion located on a second side of the receiving hole, and a guide hole, the first and second portions located on opposite sides of the receiving hole in a transverse plane and arranged such that the guide hole extends completely within and is defined by a thickness of the lower connector from the first portion to the second portion, the prosthetic adapter arranged for connection to the upper leg prosthesis;
and a lower component pivotally connecting the adapter to the knee joint,
a locking mechanism for preventing the upper connector from rotating relative to the lower connector, the locking mechanism arranged to automatically retain a locked position when the lower connector is rotated to an original alignment.

16. The prosthetic knee assembly of claim 15 , further comprising an activation member connected to and arranged for operating the locking mechanism.

17. The prosthetic knee assembly of claim 16 , wherein the locking mechanism includes a housing generally located at a top surface of the lower connector, and includes a locking member and at least one guide member arranged to receive the locking member.

18. The prosthetic knee assembly of claim 17 , wherein the locking member is arranged to be urged into a locked position via an elastic return member in relation to the upper connector.

19. A prosthetic adapter, comprising:
a lower connector having a first receiving hole, a first portion located on a first side of the first receiving hole, a second portion located on a second side of the first receiving hole, and a guide hole, the first and second portions located on opposite sides of the first receiving hole in a transverse plane and arranged such that the guide hole extends completely within and is defined by a thickness of the lower connector from the first portion to the second portion;
an upper connector rotatably coupled to the lower connector at the receiving hole;
a locking mechanism, at the second portion of the lower connector, for preventing the upper connector from rotating relative to the lower connector, the locking mechanism arranged to automatically retain a locked position when the lower connector is rotated to an original alignment, the locking mechanism comprises at least a locking member;
an activation member connected to and arranged for operating the locking member, the activation member positioned at the second portion of the lower connector and arranged to serve as a visual indicator whether the locking mechanism is locked;
a release mechanism having an actuator coupled to and arranged for driving the activation member from a first position to a second position, wherein the

Assignees

• Ossur Hf

Inventors

• Olafsson Sigurdur
• Ingimarsson Gudni
• Landry David

Classifications

• A61F2002/5069

  Ball bearings · CPC title

• A61F2002/6854

  for locking or unlocking a joint · CPC title

• A61F2002/5018

  for adjusting angular orientation · CPC title

• A61F2/76

  Means for assembling, fitting or testing prostheses, e.g. for measuring or balancing, {e.g. alignment means} · CPC title

• A61F2/64 Primary

  Knee joints · CPC title