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US 6,767,370 B1Granted
Foot insert for an artificial foot
AssigneeOtto Bock Healthcare GmbH
InventorsLueder Mosler, Martin Pusch
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention relates to a resilient foot insert for an artificial foot, having at least one spring element that determines the spring rigidity of the artificial foot, and an adapting device for changing the spring rigidity of the spring element. In order to improve and simplify the adaptation of the foot insert to the respective use conditions, the invention provides that the adapting device be automatically actuated as a function of the respective loading to which the foot insert is subjected by the patient wearing the artificial foot.
Claims28
An artificial foot, comprising:
- a covering defining an artificial foot having a forefoot region and a heel region;
- and
- a resilient foot insert placed inside of said covering and comprising:
- a first spring element comprising at least one forefoot leaf spring element extending into the forefoot region of the foot insert for determining spring rigidity of the artificial foot;
- a second spring element located at least in part in the heel region of the artificial foot;
- an attachment member connected to at least one of said spring elements, for mounting the artificial foot to a prosthesis;
- and
- an adapting device actuated in response to flexing of said second spring element and operatively connected to the second spring element for changing the spring rigidity of the artificial foot by changing the spring rigidity of the forefoot leaf spring element responsive to a load placed on the artificial foot which causes flexing of the second spring element, wherein the adapting device is operatively connected to the forefoot leaf spring element for directly changing its bending resistance and wherein deflection of the second spring element in the heel due to flexing thereof comprises an input variable for actuating the adapting device.
5 more elements
An artificial foot, comprising:
- a covering defining an artificial foot having a forefoot region and a heel region;
- and
- a resilient foot insert placed inside of said covering and comprising:
- at least one first spring element for determining spring rigidity of the artificial foot;
- a second spring element located at least in part in the heel region of the artificial foot;
- an attachment member connected to at least one of said spring elements, for mounting the artificial foot to a prosthesis;
- and
- an adapting device operatively connected to the at least one first spring element for changing a spring rigidity of the artificial foot, wherein the at least one first spring element includes a forefoot spring comprising a leaf spring, wherein deflection of said second spring element in the heel comprises an input variable for controlling the adapting device, wherein the adapting device is actuated dependent on a load placed on the artificial foot, and wherein the adapting device comprises a pressure pad mounted on the at least one first spring element, and a pump fluidly communicating with the pressure pad for increasing and decreasing the volume of the pressure pad responsive to the load on the heel to change the bending resistance of said leaf spring.
5 more elements
An artificial foot, comprising:
- a covering defining an artificial foot having a forefoot region and a heel region;
- and
- a resilient foot insert placed inside of said covering and comprising:
- a first spring element comprising at least one forefoot leaf spring element extending into the forefoot region of the foot for determining spring rigidity of the artificial foot;
- a second spring element located at least in part in the heel region of the artificial foot;
- an attachment member connected to at least one of said spring elements, for mounting the artificial foot to a prosthesis;
- and
- means, operatively connected to the second spring element, for changing the spring rigidity of the artificial foot by directly changing the bending resistance of the forefoot spring element responsive to flexing of said second spring element due to a load placed on the artificial foot, wherein deflection of the second spring element in the heel due to flexing thereof comprises an input variable for actuating the means for changing the spring rigidity of the artificial foot.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.