# US 8,784,502 B2 · Method for aligning a prosthesis > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,784,502 B2 - Document ID: US8784502B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/049,593 - Filed: 2011-03-16 - Published: 2011-12-22 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2006-09-11 - Assignees: Orthocare Innovations LLC - Applicants: Ben Gilbert Macomber; David Alan Boone - Inventors: Ben Gilbert Macomber; David Alan Boone - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8784502B2 ## CPC - A61F 2/76: Means for assembling, fitting or testing prostheses, e.g. for measuring or balancing - A61F 2/60: Artificial legs or feet or parts thereof - A61F 2/66: Feet; Ankle joints - A61F 2/70: electrical - G01B 21/24: for testing alignment of axes - G01L 1/2218: {the supports being of the column type, e.g. cylindric, adapted for measuring a force along a single direction} - G01L 1/2231: {the supports being disc- or ring-shaped, adapted for measuring a force along a single direction} - G01L 5/162: of piezoresistors - G06F 30/17: Mechanical parametric or variational design - A61F 2002/5021: {for adjusting a position by translation along an axis} - A61F 2002/5023: {along two perpendicular axes} - A61F 2002/704: {computer-controlled, e.g. robotic control} - A61F 2002/705: {Electromagnetic data transfer} - 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 2002/7695: {Means for testing non-implantable prostheses} - 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) - G01B: MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS - G01L: MEASURING FORCE, STRESS, TORQUE, WORK, MECHANICAL POWER, MECHANICAL EFFICIENCY, OR FLUID PRESSURE (weighing G01G) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract A computerized prosthesis alignment system includes a transducer that can measure socket reactions in the anterior/posterior plane and the right/left planes, while canceling or reducing the transverse forces on the measurements of these socket reactions. In addition, the transducer is also capable of determining the axial load or weight experienced by the prosthesis. The computerized prosthesis alignment system is in communication with a host computer. The moment data from the transducer is interpreted by the user via a computer interface. The host computer includes memory for storing one or more applications. These applications receive data from the transducer, interpret the data with discrete algebraic or fuzzy logic algorithms, and display the output numerically and graphically. Applications may also interpret the data to provide analysis to the user for aligning the prosthesis. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for determining whether a prosthesis is misaligned, wherein the prosthesis comprises a socket for receiving a limb, comprising: obtaining signals representative of moments in an anterior/posterior plane and right/left plane experienced at a base of a prosthesis socket when a patient walks with the prosthesis for a time period; obtaining corrected signals by applying a correction factor to the signals; computing gait variables from the corrected signals; and applying the gait variables to a model of alignment. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising providing instructions to correct the alignment of the prosthesis. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the correction factor accounts for an angular deviation from a line being followed by the patient. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising obtaining signals representative of axial forces experienced at the prosthesis base. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising obtaining signals representative of moments experienced at the prosthesis base for more than one step taken by the patient. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising obtaining signals representative of moments experienced at the prosthesis base for two or more steps taken by the patient, and the two or more steps are continuous. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising determining phases of a step and obtaining weight information of the patient at midstance of the step. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a user interface for obtaining input. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising plotting the moments for one or more steps taken by the patient. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising plotting the moments and the model of alignment on the same graph. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising plotting a load being supported by the prosthesis and an opposite foot. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising plotting a locus representing the moments onto a graph having a target. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising providing instructions to align the prosthesis to move the locus to the target. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein gait variables include one or more of anterior/posterior moment at a percent of a stance phase, right/left moment at a percent of a stance phase, maxima of anterior/posterior moment, maxima of right/left moment, minima of anterior/posterior moment, minima of right/left moment, a slope of a change in anterior/posterior moment during stance phase, a slope of a change in right/left moment during stance phase, integrated anterior/posterior moment during stance phase, or integrated right/left moment during stance phase. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the model of alignment describes relationships of combinations of gait variables to possible prosthesis misalignments.