Prosthesis (i.e. – artificial body members) – parts thereof – or ai – Leg – Adjustable shank or thigh
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-11
2002-10-01
Snow, Bruce (Department: 3738)
Prosthesis (i.e., artificial body members), parts thereof, or ai
Leg
Adjustable shank or thigh
Reexamination Certificate
active
06458163
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to prosthetic devices, and more particularly to a prosthetic-limb coupling-socket adapter which secures a boss of a prosthetic-limb link-member.
As shown in
FIG. 1
a
, a conventional pyramidal link-plate
10
is one type of prosthetic-limb link-member and has a frustopyramidal, four-sided boss
12
projecting from a dome-shaped, or a spherically-convex-shaped, base
14
, which in turn projects from a plate member
16
. The plate member
16
will typically include four screw or bolt-receiving, through-holes
18
corresponding to a standard (within the industry) four-hole pattern.
As shown in
FIG. 1
b
, a prosthetic limb
20
for a transfemoral amputee will include a prosthetic limb socket
22
for receiving the wearer's residual limb, a knee joint assembly
24
, a first pylon component
23
between the prosthetic limb socket and the knee joint assembly, interconnection components
26
for coupling the first pylon
23
to the prosthetic limb socket
22
, interconnection components
27
for coupling the first pylon to the knee joint assembly
24
, an ankle/foot assembly
28
, and a second pylon
29
coupled between the knee joint assembly
24
and the ankle/foot assembly
28
. The interconnection components
26
may consist of a locking or suction assembly
30
(such as a Shuttle Lock component or a ProSeal component commercially available from Prosthetic Design, Inc.) positioned within a distal end of the prosthetic limb socket
22
, the conventional pyramidal link-plate
10
, and a conventional coupling-socket adapter
32
for coupling the first pylon
23
to the distal boss
12
of the pyramidal link-plate
10
. Likewise, the interconnection components
27
may consist of another conventional pyramidal link-plate
10
mounted to the knee-joint assembly and another conventional coupling-socket adapter
32
for coupling the first pylon
23
to the distal boss
12
of the pyramidal link-plate
10
. A plurality of set screws
33
extend radially and downwardly against the distal boss
12
of the pyramidal link-plate
10
and are tightened to securely mount the pyramidal link-plate
10
(and the respective prosthetic limb components fastened thereto) to the coupling-socket adapter
32
(and the first pylon
23
). The conventional pyramidal link-plate
10
and the conventional coupling-socket adapter
32
are primarily based upon the “Adjustable Link” described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,659,294 to Glabiszewski, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
In fitting prosthetic limbs to patients, it is often necessary for the prosthetist to modify the alignments and orientations of the various prosthetic limb components with respect to each other during the initial fitting or after the patient has worn the prosthetic limb for a period of time. The first pylon
23
is typically capable of being rotatably adjusted with respect to the coupling-socket adapters. However, with certain transfemoral amputees, the distance between the distal end of the patient's residual limb and the patient's natural knee center is very short; and if the combined length of the components between a prosthetic limb socket and the prosthetic knee joint is greater than the distance between the distal end of the patients residual limb and the patient's natural knee center, then the prosthetist may be forced to eliminate the first pylon
23
. Otherwise the knee center on the prosthetic side will be too low, thus causing gate deviation.
When the first pylon
23
is eliminated, the means to rotatably adjust the various prosthetic limb components is also lost. Accordingly, there are existing pyramidal link-plate components which offer sliding and/or rotating capabilities to such components. The disadvantage with the conventional sliding and/or rotating pyramidal link-plate components is that, to provide such adjustability, the profile and/or the length of the component must be increased. Other rotatably adjustable pyramidal link-plate components only allow finite or incremental rotation and are difficult to adjust.
For example, one known rotatably adjustable pyramidal link-plate assembly includes a dome shaped component having the pyramidal boss extending from its apex, where the dome shaped component includes an upwardly facing (i.e., facing in towards the apex of the dome), serrated, annular ring positioned around an outer circumference of the base of the dome. The assembly also includes a planar base plate component having four screw-holes extending therethrough and arranged in a standard four-hole pattern. The planar base plate also has a central hole sized for receiving the dome portion of the dome shaped component therethrough. On the underside of the planar base plate, encircling the central hole, is a serrated, annular ring adapted to engage with the upwardly facing serrated, annular ring of the dome shaped component when the dome shaped component is inserted through the underside of the central hole. When the two components are assembled, and installed onto a prosthetic limb component by tightening four screws extending through the screw-holes, the two components are rotationally locked with respect to each other. To rotatably adjust the two components with respect to each other, the four screws must be loosened enough to allow the base plate component to be lifted from the dome shaped component to a sufficient extent so that the two serrated rings disengage from one another. Once the rotational adjustment is made, the screws are tightened again.
One disadvantage with this design is that the serrations, or teeth, allow for only finite (e.g. 5 or 6 degree increments) rotational adjustments. Additionally, it is often-times difficult to have access to the four screws extending through the base plate component (especially when the prosthetic limb socket and knee joint assembly are positioned in close proximity to one another). To access the four screws in such a situation, the adjustable pyramid link-plate assembly must first be separated from the female coupling-socket adapter. Accordingly the prosthetist will essentially have to disassemble the prosthetic limb to adjust rotational alignment.
Accordingly, there is a need for a prosthetic-limb coupling-socket adapter assembly that provides rotatable adjustment for the prosthetic limb, yet does not significantly increase the profile or length of the attachment of the interconnection components. There also is a need for a prosthetic-limb coupling-socket adapter assembly that provides for infinite rotational adjustments. There further is a need for a prosthetic-limb coupling-socket adapter assembly that does not require disassembly of the various interconnection components to allow for rotational adjustments.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In a first statement of the coupling-socket adapter assembly of the invention, the coupling-socket adapter assembly is for a prosthetic limb and includes a base plate subassembly, a coupling-socket adapter, and a rotational locking and unlocking mechanism. The base plate subassembly is attachable to a first prosthetic limb component. The coupling-socket adapter is rotatably attached to the base plate subassembly and has a cavity for receiving a male coupling member (such as a boss of a pyramidal link-plate). The mechanism locks the coupling-socket adapter against rotation with respect to the base plate subassembly and unlocks the coupling-socket adapter for rotation with respect to the base plate subassembly. The mechanism is operable when the base plate subassembly is attached to the first prosthetic limb component.
In a second statement of the coupling-socket adapter assembly of the invention, the coupling-socket adapter assembly is for a prosthetic limb and includes a base plate subassembly, a coupling-socket adapter, and a ring. The base plate subassembly is attachable to a first prosthetic limb component. The coupling-socket adapter is rotatably attached to the base plate subassembly, has an upper portion and a lower portion, and ha
Schall Scott R.
Slemker Tracy C.
Wiggins Lanny K.
Prosthetic Design, Inc.
Snow Bruce
Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP
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