Prosthetic device using a cam-shaped wheel
AssigneeFountainhead L.L.C.
InventorsBruce Kania, David Zimmerman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A prosthetic device includes an energy storing member, a lever member attached to the energy storing member, a rocking member and an energy transfer line. This line has a first end attached to a front end of the energy storing member and a second end attached to a back end of the lever member. The line has its middle portion attached to the rocking member. The energy storing member is preferably a leaf spring. This combination of elements in the prosthetic device may be a lower leg or foot for use by a below-the-knee amputee to simulate more closely the natural gait of a person while walking or running.
Claims27
A prosthetic device comprising:
- an energy storing member;
- a lever member flexibly attached to the energy storing member;
- a rocking member;
- and
- an energy transfer line having a first end attached to the energy storing member and having a second end attached to the lever member, said energy transfer line having a middle portion attached to the rocking member,
- wherein a flexing motion of the lever member is converted into a deflection of the energy storing member and potential energy imparted by the lever member to the energy storing member is stored in the energy storing member, and
- wherein the potential energy stored in the energy storing member is transferred to the lever member via the rocking member.
A prosthetic device comprising an energy storing member, a lever member flexibly attached to the energy storing member, and a rocking member connected between the energy storing member and the lever member,
- wherein a flexing motion of the lever member is converted into a deflection of the energy storing member and potential energy imparted by the lever member to the energy storing member is stored in the energy storing member, and
- wherein potential energy stored in the energy storing member is transferred to the lever member via the rocking member.
A prosthetic device comprising:
- an energy storing member;
- a lever member attached to the energy storing member;
- a rocking member;
- and
- an energy transfer line having a first end attached to the energy storing member and having a second end attached to the lever member, said energy transfer line having a middle portion attached to the rocking member,
- wherein the lever member has a front end and a back end and the energy storing member is a leaf spring having a front end and a back end.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.