Modular knee joint
AssigneePro Limb International Corp.
InventorHsin-Fa SHEN
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The modular knee joint has a connecting rod assembly, a locking assembly, and an actuating assembly. The locking assembly selectively locks the connecting rod assembly, such that the connecting rod assembly cannot pivot. When the heel of the prosthesis contacts the ground, the connecting rod assembly activates the actuating assembly, such that when the thigh and the prosthetic shank rotate at a small angle relative to each other, the locking assembly intervenes to lock the connecting rod assembly, thereby locking the actuating assembly. Therefore, the modular knee joint can maintain the resistance during the entire bending process without losing resistance after bending to a specific angle.
Claims14
A modular knee joint configured to connect a thigh and a prosthetic shank of a user;
- the modular knee joint comprising:
- an upper connecting unit configured to connect the thigh of the user;
- a lower connecting unit configured to connect the prosthetic shank;
- a connecting rod assembly located between the upper connecting unit and the lower connecting unit;
- a locking assembly selectively locking the connecting rod assembly, therefore the connecting rod assembly incapable of pivoting;
- an actuating assembly, the lower connecting unit securely mounted on the actuating assembly;
- the actuating assembly comprising:
- a first oil storage cavity;
- a second oil storage cavity;
- a first connecting channel fluidly communicating with the first oil storage cavity and the second oil storage cavity;
- a second connecting channel fluidly communicating with the first oil storage cavity and the second oil storage cavity;
- a movable plug selectively blocking the first connecting channel;
- and
- a driven unit, an end of the driven unit connected to the connecting rod assembly, and another end of the driven unit selectively pushing the movable plug;
- wherein when the upper connecting unit and the lower connecting unit rotate with respect to each other, the driven unit and the movable plug are separated by the connecting rod assembly;
- then the movable plug blocks the first connecting channel, and the locking assembly locks the connecting rod assembly at the same time;
- therefore, the connecting rod assembly is incapable of pivoting and the driven unit and the movable plug keep separated.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.