BACKGROUND

Field

The present application relates to prosthetic feet, prosthetic knees, and other prosthetic devices having cams, and more particularly to prosthetic feet, prosthetic knees, and other prosthetic devices having one or more cams and allowing for changes in the angular orientation of a joint by selectively locking and unlocking the joint.

Description of the Related Art

In the field of prosthetics, particularly prosthetic feet and prosthetic knees, it is desirable to provide a high level of functionality with reliable performance. Further, as each user is different, it is desirable to provide a prosthesis that can be adapted to the particular needs of each individual user.

The prior art includes many hydraulic valve-controlled, multi-component joints. However, there is a need for a simple and robust mechanical joint that allows for selective adjustment of the angular orientation of the joint.

SUMMARY

In some embodiments, a possible advantage of the locking mechanism disclosed herein over the prior art include that the locking mechanism is a simple, intuitive, mechanical mechanism. The locking mechanism can advantageously have few moving parts, making it robust and cost-effective, as well as reducing the likelihood of wear damage during use, thereby extending the life of the joint. The prosthetic joint can be incorporated into any type of lower extremity joint, such as the ankle or knee. Further, the prosthetic joint can be incorporated into upper extremity joints.

Particularly in the area of prosthetic feet, it can be desirable for the heel height to be adjustable, while having a locked configuration during movement (e.g., while the user is walking). Throughout the gait cycle and in other activities such as stance, it can be desirable to provide a prosthesis that provides ample stability under load. Further, it can be desirable for a prosthetic foot to be freely adjustable to suit a user's preferences. For instance, the user may adjust the orientation of the prosthetic foot depending on activity level.

Of particular importance to foot prosthetics, the heel height of the prosthesis can be adjusted to match the orientation of the natural foot or the natural foot in footwear. For instance, for female amputees, the orientation of the prosthetic foot can be adjusted to match the heel height of the natural foot in footwear. This adjustability could provide the female amputee with the option to wear a variety of footwear on the natural foot, from ballet flats to stiletto heels, while allowing the prosthetic foot to match the heel height.

Turning now to the area of knee prosthetics, it can be desirable for the knee orientation to be adjustable, while having a locked configuration during movement. It can be desirable for the knee to hold the set angle under load such as during stance but to be freely repositionable in a variety of different orientations by the user. Repositioning may be needed, for instance, depending on the activity level of the amputee or the terrain (e.g., while the user is sitting down).

The adjustability of the prosthetic joint can be simple and intuitive. In some embodiments, the adjustability of the prosthetic joint can be actuated by a simple mechanical feature (e.g. buttons, lever, turnkey, brake wire, etc.). It can be desirable for the prosthetic joint to be locked and unlocked on demand (e.g., when selectively actuated by the user). Further, it can be desirable for the prosthetic joint to be adjustable to an individual who may have various weights, heights, stride lengths, etc.

For purposes of summarizing the invention and the advantages achieved over the prior art, certain objects and advantages of the invention have been described herein above. Of course, it is to be understood that not necessarily all such objects or advantages may be achieved in accordance with any particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, for example, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught or suggested herein without necessarily achieving other objects or advantages as may be taught or suggested herein.

In some embodiments, a prosthetic joint is provided. The prosthetic joint can include a first attachment member and a second attachment member movably coupled to the first attachment member. The second attachment member can include a cylindrical chamber. The prosthetic joint can include a fixation system disposed within the cylindrical chamber comprising at least one cam and at least one actuator. The at least one actuator can be configured to move the at least one cam into or out of contact with the cylindrical chamber. The prosthetic joint can have an unlocked configuration when the at least one actuator moves the at least one cam out of contact with the cylindrical chamber such that the first and second attachment members are free to rotate relative to each other. The prosthetic joint can have a locked configuration when the at least one actuator moves the at least one cam into contact with the cylindrical chamber such that the first and second attachment members are inhibited from rotating relative to each other.

In some embodiments, the at least one cam comprises a first cam and a second cam. In some embodiments, the first cam does not align with the second cam in the locked configuration. In some embodiments, the first cam aligns with the second cam in the unlocked configuration. In some embodiments, the at least one actuator comprises at least two springs, wherein the at least two springs bias the first cam away from the second cam, in the locked configuration. In some embodiments, the at least one actuator comprises a first button and a second button, wherein the first button engages the first cam and the second button engages the second cam to align the cams in the unlocked configuration. In some embodiments, the at least one actuator comprises a turnkey configured to be rotated between a first position having a first dimension wherein the cams are aligned and out of contact with the cylindrical chamber, and a second position having a second dimension different than the first dimension wherein the cams are unaligned and in contact with the cylindrical chamber. In some embodiments, the at least one actuator comprises at least one linear member engaged with the second cam, the at least one linear member configured to pull the second cam toward the first cam to move the prosthetic joint to the unlocked configuration. In some embodiments, the at least one actuator comprises a lever configured to be rotated between a first position with a first dimension in contact with the at least one cam, and a second position with a second dimension in contact with the at least one cam, wherein the first dimension is greater than the second dimension. In some embodiments, the at least one actuator comprises at least one linear member, wherein the at least linear member pulls the at least one cam to reposition the at least one cam within the cylindrical chamber.

In some embodiments, a prosthetic joint is provided. The prosthetic joint can include a first attachment member and a second attachment member movably coupled to the first attachment member. The second attachment member can include a cylindrical chamber. The prosthetic joint can include a fixation system disposed within the cylindrical chamber comprising a first cam, a second cam, and a first cam spring associated with the first cam. The prosthetic joint can have an unlocked configuration wherein the first cam aligns with the second cam, wherein in the unlocked configuration the first attachment member and the second attachment member can rotate relative to each other. The prosthetic joint can have a locked configuration wherein the first cam does not align with the second cam, wherein in the locked configuration the first attachment member is inhibited from rotating relative to the second attachment member.

In some embodiments, the first cam spring biases the first cam into contact against the cylindrical chamber. The prosthetic joint can include a second cam spring associated with the second cam. In some embodiments, the first cam is biased by the first cam spring in a first direction, and the second cam is biased by the second cam spring in a second direction, wherein the first direction is opposite the second direction. The prosthetic joint can include an actuator with at least one positioning member, wherein depressing the at least one positioning member changes a configuration of the prosthetic joint from the locked configuration to the unlocked configuration. In some embodiments, the prosthetic joint comprises a pair of positioning members, and wherein depressing a first positioning member toward the first cam and depressing a second positioning member toward the second cam changes the configuration of the prosthetic joint from the locked configuration to the unlocked configuration.

In some embodiments, a prosthetic joint is provided. The prosthetic joint can include a first attachment member and a second attachment member movably coupled to the first attachment member. The second attachment member can include a cylindrical chamber. The prosthetic joint can include a fixation system disposed within the cylindrical chamber comprising a first cam, a second cam, and a turnkey actuator with a pin that extends through a first hole in the first cam and a second hole in the second cam. The prosthetic joint can be actuatable from an unlocked configuration where the first cam aligns with the second cam and the first and second attachment members can rotate relative to each other and a locked configuration where the first cam does not align with the second cam and the first and second attachment members are inhibited from rotating relative to each other.

In some embodiments, rotation of the turnkey changes the prosthetic joint from the unlocked configuration to the locked configuration. In some embodiments, the turnkey has a first non-constant dimension and a second constant dimension along a length of the pin, wherein actuation of the turnkey to place the first non-constant dimension in contact with the first and second cams causes the prosthetic joint to lock, and wherein actuation of the turnkey to place the second constant dimension in contact with the first and second cams causes the prosthetic joint to unlock. The prosthetic joint can include a first cam spring that biases the first cam toward the turnkey. The prosthetic joint can include a second cam spring that biases the second cam toward the turnkey.

In some embodiments, a prosthetic joint is provided. The prosthetic joint can include a first attachment member and a second attachment member movably coupled to the first attachment member. The second attachment member can include a cylindrical chamber. The prosthetic joint can include a fixation system disposed within the cylindrical chamber comprising a cam, and a lever having an engagement portion in contact with the cam. The prosthetic joint can have an unlocked configuration where the lever is positioned in a first position such that the cam does not contact the cylindrical surface such that the first and second attachment members can rotate relative to each other. The prosthetic joint can have a locked configuration where the lever is positioned in a second position such that the cam contacts the cylindrical surface so that the first and second attachment members are inhibited from rotating relative to each other.

In some embodiments, prosthetic joint changes from the unlocked configuration to the locked configuration by rotation of the lever. In some embodiments, the engagement portion has a first dimension and a second dimension, the second dimension less than the first dimension, wherein the prosthetic joint is in the locked configuration when the first dimension is in contact with the cam and moves the cam into contact with the cylindrical chamber, and wherein the prosthetic joint is in the unlocked configuration when the second dimension is in contact with the cam. In some embodiments, the cam is substantially diamond shaped.

In some embodiments, a prosthetic joint is provided. The prosthetic joint can include a first attachment member and a second attachment member movably coupled to the first attachment member. The second attachment member can include a cylindrical chamber. The prosthetic joint can include a fixation system disposed within the cylindrical chamber comprising a first cam, a second cam and a wire passing through an aperture in the first cam and coupled to the second cam. In some embodiments, actuation of the first and second cams toward each other moves the prosthetic joint to an unlocked configuration, wherein in the unlocked configuration the first attachment member and the second attachment member can rotate relative to each other. In some embodiments, wherein actuation of the first and second cams away from each other moves the prosthetic joint to a locked configuration, wherein in the locked configuration the first attachment member is substantially prevented from rotating relative to the second attachment member.

In some embodiments, actuation of the wire to pull the second cam into contact with the first cam moves the prosthetic joint to the unlocked configuration. The prosthetic joint can include a first distally extending lid and a second distally extending lid, wherein the first distally extending lid and the second distally extending lid enclose the cylindrical chamber. The prosthetic joint can include an axle, wherein the axle extends through the first distally extending lid, the first cam, the second cam, and the second distally extending lid. In some embodiments, the first cam and the second cam are interlaced along the axle.

In some embodiments, a prosthetic joint is provided with a variable height control, which allows the height to be adjusted based on the preferences of the user. In some embodiments, the variable height control is mechanically actuatable (e.g., actuated manually by a user) to vary the height of the proximal portion of the joint with respect to the distal portion of the joint (e.g., by depressing a button to align the cams or actuating a lever to align the cams). In another embodiment, the variable height control can be automatically or actively adjusted by the user (e.g., automatic adjustment of the cams, or active varying of the cam springs), e.g., based on the activity level of the user or the phase of gait cycle. In some embodiments the variable height control can be automatically adjusted based on a sensed parameter (e.g., sensed with one or more sensors on the prosthetic device).

In some embodiments, where the prosthetic device is a prosthetic foot, the prosthetic joint can be located generally at a location associated with a natural human ankle, and provide for heel height adjustment similar to that of a natural human ankle. In some embodiments, where the prosthetic device is a prosthetic knee, the prosthetic joint can be located generally at a location associated with a natural human knee, and provide for rotational adjustment similar to that of a natural human knee. In some embodiments, a prosthetic joint can have a connector configured to connect the prosthetic joint to a user or another prosthetic device. In some embodiments, the prosthetic device can be integrally formed with either the proximal portion or the distal portion of the prosthetic joint.

