Adjustable lower limb prosthesis and apparatus and method for the adjustment thereof
AssigneeThe Ohio Willow Wood Company
InventorsJoseph Arbogast, Robert Arbogast
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A lower limb prosthesis as a prosthetic foot and an elongate rod formed substantially of unidirectional long fibers embedded in a thermoplastic matrix, the fibers extending substantially parallel to the length of the rod. An adjustment apparatus for the prosthesis includes a pair of pods which may be clamped to the rod and rotated at controlled angles once the thermoplastic rod has been heated to its deformation temperature.
Claims17
A lower leg prosthesis adjustment apparatus for adjusting a lower limb prosthesis including a prosthetic foot and an elongate rod having one end fixed to the foot and a proximal end, the elongate rod being formed substantially of unidirectional long fibers embedded in a thermoplastic matrix and extending substantially parallel to the length of the rod, said apparatus comprising:
- means for heating the rod to a temperature such that the matrix is thermoplastically deformable;
- and
- means for deforming the rod about at least one axis,
- whereby the rod may be heated and bent for adjustment of the prosthesis.
A method for adjusting a lower limb prosthesis including a prosthetic foot and an elongate rod having one end fixed to the foot and a proximal end, the elongate rod being formed substantially of unidirectional long fibers embedded in a thermoplastic matrix and extending substantially parallel to the length of the rod, comprising the steps of:
- heating the rod to a temperature such that the matrix is thermoplastically deformable;
- deforming the heated rod about at least one axis;
- and
- permitting the deformed rod to cool.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.