Prosthetic ankle assembly and ankle-foot system comprising same

A foot-ankle system comprising:

• a prosthetic foot defining a receptacle and having a longitudinal axis and toe and heel portions spaced apart relative to the longitudinal axis;
• and
• an ankle assembly having:
• a resilient joint subassembly configured for at least partial receipt within the receptacle of the prosthetic foot;
• an endoskeletal connector secured to the resilient joint subassembly and configured for mechanical coupling with a prosthetic leg;
• and
• an ankle body having inner surfaces that are configured to receive at least a portion of the resilient joint subassembly and outer surfaces that are configured to engage interior surfaces of a receptacle of the prosthetic foot,
• wherein the ankle body has a taper, wherein the receptacle of the prosthetic foot has a sloped or tapered inner surface, wherein the taper of the ankle body and the sloped or tapered inner surface of the receptacle of the prosthetic foot are configured cooperate to define a tapered connection having a posterior aspect that is configured to receive a greatest portion of a tensile stress generated during a late stance phase of walking,
• wherein upon receipt of the resilient joint subassembly within the receptacle of the prosthetic foot, the resilient joint subassembly is configured to permit pivotal movement of the endoskeletal connector from a start position relative to a transverse pivot axis that is perpendicular or oblique to the longitudinal axis of the prosthetic foot, and
• wherein upon pivotal movement of the endoskeletal connector in a forward direction toward the toe portion of the prosthetic foot or in a rearward direction toward the heel portion of the prosthetic foot, the resilient joint subassembly is configured to apply a return force to urge the endoskeletal connector toward the start position.

A method comprising:

• using a foot-ankle system comprising:
• a prosthetic foot defining a receptacle and having a longitudinal axis and toe and heel portions spaced apart relative to the longitudinal axis;
• and
• an ankle assembly having:
• a resilient joint subassembly configured for at least partial receipt within the receptacle of the prosthetic foot;
• an endoskeletal connector secured to the resilient joint subassembly and configured for mechanical coupling with a prosthetic leg;
• and
• an ankle body having inner surfaces that are configured to receive at least a portion of the resilient joint subassembly and outer surfaces that are configured to engage interior surfaces of a receptacle of the prosthetic foot;
• wherein the ankle body has a taper, wherein the receptacle of the prosthetic foot has a sloped or tapered inner surface, wherein the taper of the ankle body and the sloped or tapered inner surface of the receptacle of the prosthetic foot cooperate to define a tapered connection having a posterior aspect that is configured to receive a greatest portion of a tensile stress generated during a late stance phase of walking,
• inserting at least a portion of the resilient joint subassembly of the ankle assembly within the receptacle of the prosthetic foot;
• and
• mechanically coupling the ankle assembly to the prosthetic foot,
• wherein upon receipt of the resilient joint subassembly within the receptacle of the prosthetic foot, the resilient joint subassembly is configured to permit pivotal movement of the endoskeletal connector from a start position relative to a transverse pivot axis that is perpendicular or oblique to the longitudinal axis of the prosthetic foot, and
• wherein upon pivotal movement of the endoskeletal connector in a forward direction toward the toe portion of the prosthetic foot or in a rearward direction toward the heel portion of the prosthetic foot, the resilient joint subassembly is configured to apply a return force to urge the endoskeletal connector toward the start position.