Metatarsal joint shape for prosthetic foot and control mechanism and system for same

A prosthetic foot comprising:

• a plate-like foot member extending along a longitudinal axis between an anterior edge generally corresponding to a toe portion of a foot and a posterior edge of the foot member, the foot member having a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface, the bottom surface configured to operatively contact a support surface during ambulation of the prosthetic foot, the foot member comprising one or more elongate grooves defined within the foot member and having sidewalls extending below said top surface, the one or more elongate grooves defined between medial and lateral edges of the foot member, the elongate groove positioned along the length of the foot member at a location generally corresponding to a metatarsal region of a natural human foot and configured to allow the anterior portion of the foot to controllably articulate relative to the posterior end of the foot;
• and
• a filler material disposed in the elongate groove, the filler material configured to vary the rate and/or degree of articulation of the anterior portion of the foot relative to the posterior end of the foot, the foot member comprising a flange extending above the top surface adjacent each sidewall of the one or more elongate grooves to enclose the filling material.