# US 8,771,370 B2 · Orthopedic device

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- Number: US 8,771,370 B2
- Document ID: US8771370B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/474,842
- Filed: 2012-05-18
- Published: 2012-11-01
- Granted: 2014-07-08
- Earliest claimed: 2006-12-13
- Assignees: Otto Bock Healthcare GmbH
- Applicants: Erik Albrecht-Laatsch; Ralf Carstens; Jens Northemann; Matthias Schilling
- Inventors: Erik Albrecht-Laatsch; Ralf Carstens; Jens Northemann; Matthias Schilling
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8771370B2

## CPC

- A61F 2/70: electrical
- A61F 2/60: Artificial legs or feet or parts thereof
- A61F 2002/5003: {having damping means, e.g. shock absorbers}
- A61F 2002/701: {operated by electrically controlled means, e.g. solenoids or torque motors}
- A61F 2002/708: {electrically self charging}
- 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)

## Abstract

An orthopedic device includes two components that are configured to be movable relative to on another (e.g., longitudinally translatable, pivotable, etc.). The relative movement of the two components is transmitted as unidirectional mechanical energy by means of a transmitting mechanism which includes an energy accumulator connected to a generator. The mechanical energy is thereby converted to electric power.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An orthopedic device comprising:
i) two components that are movable with respect to one another;
ii) a transmitting mechanism for transmission of a force in response to a longitudinal displacement of said two components with respect to each other;
iii) a mechanical energy accumulator which receives said force from said transmitting mechanism and accumulates a mechanical energy, wherein said transmitting mechanism and said mechanical energy accumulator are configured to allow transmission of said force from said transmitting mechanism to said mechanical energy accumulator only in one direction, wherein the mechanical energy accumulator is a spring; and
iv) a generator connected to said mechanical energy accumulator for the generation of electric power from said mechanical energy when said mechanical energy is provided to said generator,
wherein the transmitting mechanism has dual gears which produce a transmission of force on a drive shaft only in one direction,
wherein the orthopedic device is a prosthesis or orthesis, and
wherein said generator generates a sufficient supply of power to a component which consumes energy which is associated with said prosthesis or orthesis.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The orthopedic device of claim 1, wherein the generator is a direct current or alternating current generator.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The orthopedic device of claim 1, wherein a gear set is connected in series with the generator.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The orthopedic device of claim 1, wherein a blocking device is provided for the generator, wherein the blocking device blocks electrical power generation until the mechanical energy accumulator has reached a minimum power level.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The orthopedic device of claim 1, wherein the transmitting mechanism has at least one freewheel that blocks one direction of force transmission.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The orthopedic device of claim 1, wherein the transmitting mechanism has a connecting rod that transmits a relative rotary movement of the two components with respect to each other into a translatory movement.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The orthopedic device of claim 6, wherein the connecting rod is coupled to the generator via a ratchet mechanism.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The orthopedic device of claim 1 wherein the dual gears are bevel driven gears and are part of a dual gear unit which further comprises an alternately driven bevel drive gear, wherein gears are each mounted via a freewheel on a driven shaft.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The orthopedic device of claim 1, wherein the generator is coupled to a battery or capacitor.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The orthopedic device of claim 1, wherein the spring is a helical spring.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The orthopedic device of claim 1, wherein said component which consumes energy is an actuator or sensor.