Tapered flex plate for prosthetic foot

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018296370-A1
Application number	US-201815952838-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 13, 2018
Priority date	Apr 27, 2015
Publication date	Oct 18, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

Prosthetic feet that provide improved rollover and performance are provided. A prosthetic foot can include a lower foot member extending from a heel end to a toe end, a second foot member disposed above the lower foot member, and an optional third foot member disposed above the second foot member. The second foot member is tapered such that its thickness decreases toward the proximal end. Optionally, the second foot member can taper toward its distal end as well as toward its proximal end from an intermediate location on the second foot member. The third foot member can be tapered such that its thickness decreases toward the distal end. There can be a gap between a distal end of the third foot member and the second foot member that closes during dorsiflexion of the prosthetic foot during use and provides dynamic stiffness control to the prosthetic foot.

First claim

1 .- 19 . (canceled)

20 . A prosthetic foot comprising:
a first elongate foot member extending from a proximal end to a distal end wherein the first elongate foot member comprises a taper such that a thickness of the first elongate foot member increases toward the distal end of the first elongate foot member; and a second elongate foot member extending from a proximal end to a distal end, wherein the second elongate foot member is disposed above the first elongate foot member when the prosthetic foot is at rest on a support surface and is coupled to the first elongate foot member at or near the proximal ends of the first elongate foot member and the second elongate foot member, wherein a gap separates the distal end of the second elongate foot member from the first elongate foot member when the prosthetic foot is at rest on a support surface, and wherein the gap closes during dorsiflexion to increase an amount of energy stored in the first elongate foot member as the prosthetic foot moves toward toe-off.

21 . The prosthetic foot of claim 20 , wherein the second elongate foot member comprises a taper such that a thickness of the second elongate foot member increases toward the proximal end of the second elongate foot member.

22 . The prosthetic foot of claim 20 , wherein the distal end of the second elongate foot member engages the first elongate foot member during load to provide dynamic stiffness control.

23 . The prosthetic foot of claim 20 , wherein the distal end of the second elongate foot member terminates proximal of the distal end of the first elongate foot member.

24 . The prosthetic foot of claim 20 , wherein the first elongate foot member is generally C-shaped.

25 . The prosthetic foot of claim 24 , wherein the second elongate foot member is generally C-shaped.

26 . The prosthetic foot of claim 20 , wherein the first elongate foot member is generally J-shaped.

27 . The prosthetic foot of claim 26 , wherein the second elongate foot member is generally J-shaped.

28 . The prosthetic foot of claim 20 , wherein the taper of the first elongate foot member shifts a center of rotation of the prosthetic foot rearward toward a location corresponding to a center of rotation of a natural human ankle.

29 . The prosthetic foot of claim 20 , comprising an adapter coupled to the second elongate foot member at or near the proximal end of the second elongate foot member and configured to couple the prosthetic foot to a user's residual limb or another prosthetic component, the adapter further comprising a removable cover configured to be disposed over a connector on the adapter when the connector is not in use.

30 . The prosthetic foot of claim 20 , comprising a third elongate foot member extending from a proximal end to a distal end, the third elongate foot member located below the first elongate foot member when the prosthetic foot is at rest on a support surface, the third elongate foot member being coupled to the first elongate foot member proximate the distal end of the first elongate foot member and proximal of the distal end of the third elongate foot member.

31 . The prosthetic foot of claim 20 , further comprising a shim disposed below the first elongate foot member and coupled to the first elongate foot member proximate the proximal end of the first elongate foot member.

32 . A prosthetic foot comprising:
a first elongate lower foot member extending from a proximal end to a distal end; a second elongate foot member extending from a proximal end to a distal end, wherein the second elongate foot member is disposed above the first elongate foot member when the prosthetic foot is at rest on a support surface and is coupled to the first elongate foot member at or near the proximal ends of the first elongate foot member and the second elongate foot member, wherein a gap separates the distal end of the second elongate foot member from the first elongate foot member when the prosthetic foot is at rest on a support surface, and wherein the gap closes during dorsiflexion to increase an amount of energy stored in the first elongate foot member as the prosthetic foot moves toward toe-off; and an adapter coupled to the second elongate foot member at or near the proximal end of the second elongate foot member and configured to couple the prosthetic foot to a user's residual limb or another prosthetic component, the adapter further comprising a removable cover configured to be disposed over a connector on the adapter.

33 . The prosthetic foot of claim 32 , wherein the first elongate foot member comprises a taper such that a thickness of the first elongate foot member increases toward the distal end of the first elongate foot member.

34 . The prosthetic foot of claim 33 , wherein the second elongate foot member comprises a taper such that a thickness of the second elongate foot member increases toward the proximal end of the second elongate foot member.

35 . The prosthetic foot of claim 32 , wherein the connector comprises a connecting port configured for use with a vacuum suspension system.

36 . The prosthetic foot of claim 35 , wherein the connector is located on a recessed portion of the adapter, the recessed portion configured to allow the prosthetic foot to be compatible with the vacuum suspension system.

37 . The prosthetic foot of claim 32 , wherein the connector is located on a recessed portion of the adapter and the removable cover is configured to cover the recessed portion.

38 . The prosthetic foot of claim 32 , wherein the connector is located in a distal portion of the adapter.

39 . The prosthetic foot of claim 38 , wherein the adapter comprises a pyramid adapter and the connector is located on the adapter distally of the pyramid.

40 . The prosthetic foot of claim 32 , comprising a gap between a bottom surface of the adapter and a top surface of the second elongate foot member.

41 . The prosthetic foot of claim 40 , wherein the gap is defined by a curved bottom surface of the adapter and the top surface of the second elongate foot member.

42 . The prosthetic foot of claim 32 , wherein the removable cover comprises a plastic cover.

43 . The prosthetic foot of claim 32 , comprising a third elongate foot member extending from a proximal end to a distal end, the third elongate foot member located below the first elongate foot member when the prosthetic foot is at rest on a support surface, the third elongate foot member being coupled to the first elongate foot member proximate the distal end of the first elongate foot member and proximal of the distal end of the third elongate foot member.

44 . The prosthetic foot of claim 32 , wherein the distal end of the second elongate foot member terminates proximal of the distal end of the first elongate foot member.

45 . The prosthetic foot of claim 32 , wherein the distal end of the second elongate foot member engages the first elongate foot member during load to provide dynamic stiffness control.

Assignees

• Oessur Iceland Ehf

Inventors

• Jonsson Orn Ingvi
• Albertsson Aron Kristbjorn

Classifications

• A61F2002/6642

  Heels · CPC title

• A61F2002/6621

  Toes · CPC title

• A61F2002/6671

  C-shaped · CPC title

• A61F2002/6614

  Feet · CPC title

• A61F2002/6657

  having a plate-like or strip-like spring element, e.g. an energy-storing cantilever spring keel · CPC title