Artificial polycentric knee joint
OwnerHarry E. Campbellinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An artificial polycentric knee-joint mechanism comprising a four-bar linkage arranged to provide a motion similar to a normal knee having positive stability during ambulation. The four bars include a knee-mounting block mounted to the stump-receiving socket member and a lower linkage support-carriage member affixed to the lower limb component, the mounting block and linkage support being operably interconnected by side bar links, one of which is tension controlled. Also, included is a braking control to insure normal swing phase movement of the artificial leg and a shock absorbing device to prevent excess terminal impact when the lower limb returns to the extended position of the leg prosthesis.
Claims10
An artificial polycentric knee-joint mechanism interconnecting an upper stump-receiving socket member and a lower swingable shank member defining a prosthetic leg member, wherein the knee joint comprises:
- a substantially stationary mounting block secured to the upper socket member, forming a transverse link member;
- a support carriage secured to the lower shank member, defining a second link member;
- pivot means interconnecting said mounting block to said support carriage comprising:
- a first substantially vertical linkage bar positioned forward on said block and said carriage;
- a second substantially vertical linkage bar juxtapositioned aft of said first linkage bar, allowing geniculation between the stump receiving socket and the swingable shank member;
- biasing means connected between said second linkage bar and said support carriage;
- braking means supported in said carriage for engagement with said mounting block, whereby the swing action of the shank member is controlled thereby;
- and
- shock absorbing means arranged to engage said first linkage bar when said shank member swingably returns to a fully extended position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.