Passage-defining prosthetic limb structure and fabrication method
AssigneeArizona Board of Regents on Behalf of Arizona
InventorsJeffrey LaBelle, Courtney Mason
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A prosthetic device includes an internal frame assembled from multiple longitudinal members and multiple transverse members that are substantially planar in character and are arranged to be joined together. A medially arranged opening is defined in each transverse member, and is substantially registered with openings of adjacent transverse members to form a longitudinal passage, such as may be useful to receive an actuator and/or other items. At least some transverse members differ from one another in one or more of shape, length, or width. A covering member may be provided over the internal frame. Rear-facing gaps in transverse members may receive one or more elements such as dampers, batteries, or the like.
Claims23
A prosthetic device sized and shaped to correspond to at least a portion of a limb of a human user, the prosthetic device comprising:
- an internal frame that comprises:
- a plurality of longitudinal members, wherein each longitudinal member of the plurality of longitudinal members is substantially planar and comprises a plurality of first peripheral slots defined through an entire thickness of the respective longitudinal member;
- and
- a plurality of transverse members, wherein each transverse member of the plurality of transverse members is substantially planar and comprises a plurality of second peripheral slots defined through an entire thickness of the respective transverse member;
- wherein each first peripheral slot of the plurality of first peripheral slots is arranged to mate with a different second peripheral slot of the plurality of second peripheral slots, to join the plurality of longitudinal members with the plurality of transverse members;
- wherein each transverse member defines a medially arranged opening, and the medially arranged opening of each transverse member is substantially registered with the medially arranged opening of at least one adjacent transverse member;
- and
- wherein at least some transverse members of the plurality of transverse members differ from other transverse members of the plurality of transverse members in one or more of shape, length, or width.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.