Orthopedic joint device and method for controlling same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016374834-A1
Application number	US-201414902537-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 2, 2014
Priority date	Jul 3, 2013
Publication date	Dec 29, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Systems and methods for controlling an orthopedic joint device of a lower extremity, the orthopedic joint device comprising an upper part, a lower part mounted in articulated fashion to the upper part, and a conversion device arranged between the upper and lower parts. The conversion device provides for, during pivoting of the upper part relative to the lower part, mechanical work from a relative movement between the upper and lower parts to be converted and stored in at least one energy store and supplied back to the joint device with a time offset in order to assist the relative movement. The stored energy is converted back and the supply of mechanical work takes place in a controlled manner during the assistance of the relative movement.

First claim

1 . A method for controlling an orthopedic joint device of a lower extremity, comprising:
providing the orthopedic joint device with an upper part, a lower part mounted to the upper part in an articulated manner, and a conversion device arranged between the upper and lower parts; converting and storing in at least one energy store mechanical work from a relative movement between the upper and lower parts during pivoting of the upper part relative to the lower part; re-supplying energy from the at least one energy store to the joint device in a time-offset manner in order to assist the relative movement; reconverting the stored mechanical work in a controlled manner when assisting the relative movement.

2 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the supply of mechanical work is modified by energy being externally supplied to, or removed from, the at least one energy store.

3 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein an actuator is assigned to the energy store, the actuator being operable to fill the energy store to a minimum level if the relative movement is insufficient.

4 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a release device is assigned to the energy store, the release device being operable to release energy from the at least one energy store.

5 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the mechanical work is supplied in a manner dependent on at least one of:
an angular position of the upper part relative to the lower part; a position of at least one of the upper part and the lower part in space; an angular velocity of at least one of the upper part and the lower part; a relative velocity between the upper part and the lower part; a load situation; an acceleration of at least one of the upper part and the lower part.

6 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the energy store is configured to store energy, and the energy is supplied or removed in a manner dependent on at least one of:
an angular position of the upper part relative to the lower part; a position of at least one of the upper part and the lower part in space; an angular velocity of at least one of the upper part and the lower part; a relative velocity between the upper part and the lower part; a load situation; an acceleration of at least one of the upper part and the lower part.

7 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a time of engagement of the conversion device is adjusted in order to modify a amount of energy to be at least one of converted and supplied.

8 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one energy store is charged by an actuator if the conversion device is not active due to the relative movement between the upper part and the lower part.

9 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the relative movement is influenced by a damper device.

10 . An orthopedic joint device of a lower extremity, comprising:
an upper part; a lower part mounted to the upper part in an articulated manner; a conversion device arranged between the upper and lower parts, the conversion device being operable to convert and store in at least one energy store mechanical work from relative movement between the upper and lower parts during pivoting of the upper part relative to the lower part and re-supply the mechanical work to the joint device in a time-offset manner in order to assist the relative movement; an actuator assigned to the at least one energy store, the actuator being operable to supply energy to, or removes energy from, the energy store in a controlled manner when assisting the relative movement.

11 . The orthopedic joint device as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the conversion device comprises a spring, spring mechanism or transducer.

12 . The orthopedic joint device as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the energy store comprises a spring or accumulator.

13 . The orthopedic joint device as claimed in claim 10 , further comprising a separate damper device arranged between the upper part and the lower part.

14 . The orthopedic joint device as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the separate damper device is adjustable.

15 . The orthopedic joint device as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the conversion device is adjustably coupled to a least one of the upper part and the lower part in order to displace an engagement position or an adjustment travel.

16 . The orthopedic joint device as claimed in claim 10 , wherein at least one of the conversion device and the energy store has a combination of at least two springs, the at least two springs being effective over different angular ranges of the joint device.

17 . The orthopedic joint device as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the at least two springs have different spring constants.

18 . An orthopedic joint system of a lower extremity comprising:
an upper part; a lower part movable relative to the upper part; at least one energy store; a conversion device arranged between the upper part and the lower part, the conversion device being operable to convert and store in the at least one energy store mechanical work from a first relative movement between the upper and lower parts during pivoting of the upper part relative to the lower part, and re-supply energy from the at least one energy store to the joint device in a time-offset manner in order to assist a second relative movement between the first and second part; an actuator operable to supply energy to and remove energy from the energy store in a controlled manner when assisting the second relative movement.

19 . The orthopedic joint device as claimed in claim 18 , wherein the energy store includes at least one of a spring and an accumulator.

20 . The orthopedic joint device as claimed in claim 18 , further comprising a damper device arranged between the upper part and the lower part.

Assignees

• Bock Healthcare Gmbh

Inventors

• Mosler Luder
• Pusch Martin
• Pappe Alexander
• Will Christian

Classifications

• A61F2/70

  electrical · CPC title

• A61F2002/5072

  having spring elements · CPC title

• A61F2/64

  Knee joints · CPC title

• A61F2/604 Primary

  Joints for artificial legs (A61F2/605, A61F2/64, A61F2/6607 take precedence) · CPC title

• A61F2002/5006

  Dampers, e.g. hydraulic damper · CPC title