# US 8,464,597 B2 · Sensor assembly for measuring forces and/or torques and use of said assembly

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- Number: US 8,464,597 B2
- Document ID: US8464597B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/091,854
- Filed: 2006-10-12
- Published: 2008-11-13
- Granted: 2013-06-18
- Earliest claimed: 2005-10-26
- Assignees: Otto Bock Healthcare GmbH
- Applicants: Martin Pusch
- Inventors: Martin Pusch
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8464597B2

## CPC

- A61F 2/76: Means for assembling, fitting or testing prostheses, e.g. for measuring or balancing
- G01L 5/1627: of strain gauges (using piezoresistors G01L5/162)
- A61F 2/60: Artificial legs or feet or parts thereof
- A61F 2002/30359: {Pyramidally- or frustopyramidally-shaped protrusion and recess}
- A61F 2002/7635: {for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension}
- A61F 2002/7645: {for measuring torque, e.g. hinge or turning moment, moment of force}
- A61F 2220/0033: made by longitudinally pushing a protrusion into a complementary-shaped recess, e.g. held by friction fit
- A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C)
- G01L: MEASURING FORCE, STRESS, TORQUE, WORK, MECHANICAL POWER, MECHANICAL EFFICIENCY, OR FLUID PRESSURE (weighing G01G)

## Abstract

A sensor assembly is provided for measuring forces and/or torques which are transmitted by means of a rigid transmitter having a first part and a second part. The sensor assembly includes a first connection, a second connection, electromechanical sensor elements, a first flange, a second flange and a plurality of struts. The first and second connections are connectable to the first and second parts of the transmitter, respectively. The electromechanical sensor elements convert mechanical parameters into electrical parameters. The first flange surrounds the first connection and originates at the first connection. The second flange is aligned substantially parallel to the first flange. The second connection is arranged on the second flange and has a first surface and a second surface. The plurality of struts are substantially perpendicular to the first flange and connect the first flange to the second flange. A gap is formed between the first flange, the second flange and the struts, and is larger than a width of the struts. The electromechanical sensor elements are designed for determining strains or compressions and are arranged next to the plurality of struts on at least one of the first and second surfaces of the second flange.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A sensor assembly in an artificial leg for measuring forces and torques for gait analysis, the forces and torque being transmitted by means of a rigid transmitter having a first part and a second part, the sensor assembly comprising:
a first connection connectable to the first part of the transmitter;
a second connection connectable to the second part of the transmitter;
electromechanical sensor elements for converting mechanical parameters into electrical parameters;
a first flange surrounding the first connection and originating at the first connection;
a second flange aligned substantially parallel to the first flange, wherein the second connection is arranged on the second flange and has a first surface and a second surface;
a plurality of struts substantially perpendicular to the first flange and connecting the first flange to the second flange, the plurality of struts transmitting forces from the first flange to the second flange;
wherein a gap is formed between the first flange, the second flange and the struts, and wherein the gap between the struts is larger than a width of the struts; and
wherein the electromechanical sensor elements are designed for determining strains or compressions and are arranged next to the plurality of struts on at least one of the first and second surfaces of the second flange;
wherein the sensor assembly has an x-direction, a y-direction, and a z-direction that are perpendicular to each other, and strains and compressions of the electromechanical sensor elements are used to determine different forces and moments occurring in at least two of the directions of the sensor assembly for use in the gait analysis.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the electromechanical sensor elements for recording strains or compressions are arranged on the first and second surfaces of the second flange.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The sensor assembly of claim 1, further comprising:
a first part including the first flange; and
a second part including the second flange;
wherein the sensor assembly is constructed from the first and second parts and wherein the first and second parts are rigidly connectable to one another.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of struts include a threaded bore for holding a fixing screw.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the first connection is formed having a shape of a hat with a cylindrical cross section to which the first flange adjoins.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the second connection merges into the second flange with a convex bulge.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the electromechanical sensor elements comprise strain gauges.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The sensor assembly of claim 7, wherein the strain gauges are positioned to record linear strains or compressions.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The sensor assembly of claim 7, wherein the strain gauges are positioned to record strains or compressions from recesses arranged between the second connection and the plurality of struts, wherein the strains or compressions run parallel to the edges of the second flange.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the second flange has recesses for positioning strain regions and compression regions.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the first flange and the second flange have a quadrangular contour with a plurality of corners, and the struts connect the first and second flanges together at the plurality of corners.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of struts includes four struts.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The sensor assembly of claim 1, further comprising recesses arranged diagonally between the second connection and the plurality of struts.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the second connection is arranged substantially centrally with respect to the second flange.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the sensor assembly is used in an artificial limb in place of a removable component of the artificial limb and wherein the sensor assembly is adapted to dimensions of the removable component.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The sensor assembly of claim 15, wherein the artificial limb is in an artificial leg.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The sensor assembly of claim 15, wherein the removable component is a rotation adaptor.

### Claim 18

A sensor assembly configured to measure forces and torques in an artificial leg for use in gait analysis, the sensor assembly comprising:
a connection member configured to connect a first portion of the prosthetic device to the sensor assembly;
an adapter member configured to connect a second portion of the prosthetic device to the sensor assembly;
a first flange extending from the connection member;
a second flange extending from the adapter member and arranged substantially parallel with and spaced apart from the first flange;
a plurality of struts extending from the first flange and connecting the first flange to the second flange, the plurality of struts transmitting forces from the first flange to the second flange;
at least one electromechanical sensor element configured to determine strains or compressions, the at least one electromechanical sensor element being arranged on the second flange next to the plurality of struts;
wherein the sensor assembly has an x-direction, a y-direction, and a z-direction that are perpendicular to each other, and strains and compressions of the at least one electromechanical sensor element are used to determine different forces and moments occurring in at least two of the directions of the sensor assembly for use in the gait analysis.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The sensor assembly of claim 18, wherein the at least one electromechanical sensor element includes a plurality of electromechanical sensor elements.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The sensor assembly of claim 18, wherein the at least one electromechanical sensor element is positioned on a surface of the second flange that is arranged perpendicular to the plurality of struts.

### Claim 21 (depends on 18)

The sensor assembly of claim 18, wherein the second flange and the plurality of struts are integrally formed as a single piece.

### Claim 22 (depends on 18)

The sensor assembly of claim 18, wherein a plurality of electromechanical sensor elements are positioned on the second flange next to each of the plurality of struts.

### Claim 23 (depends on 18)

The sensor assembly of claim 18, wherein a plurality of electromechanical sensor elements are positioned on opposing sides of the second flange.

### Claim 24 (depends on 18)

The sensor assembly of claim 18, wherein the struts are positioned radially outward from the connection member and adapter member.