Prosthesis (i.e. – artificial body members) – parts thereof – or ai – Leg
Patent
1997-01-03
1999-04-20
Willse, David H.
Prosthesis (i.e., artificial body members), parts thereof, or ai
Leg
623 35, 623 44, A61F 260, A61F 264
Patent
active
058954295
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a prosthesis comprising two prosthesis parts connected for mutual movement.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
A number of matters must be taken into account in the development of prostheses. A prosthesis must be comfortable, cosmetically acceptable and easily manageable. A prosthesis consists generally of two or more components. Firstly there is a component with which the prosthesis is attached to the remaining part of the amputated extremity, the stump, hereinafter referred to as the fixing part. Depending on the amputation, such a stump may be longer or shorter. In the case of exarticulations and amputations wherein a part of the upper leg or upper arm is also removed, an artificial joint is also required in addition to the fixing means. Each prosthesis further comprises a part which replaces the amputated extremity, further referred to as replacement part. In addition to simply replacing the amputated extremity, the replacement part has a number of other functions, particularly in leg prostheses, such as damping the shock which occurs when the prosthesis is set down and enabling a rotating movement of the foot relative to the stump.
Particularly in the designing of leg prostheses due account must be taken of the stability of the prosthesis. On the one hand an artificial knee must be able to carry out its pivoting function while an the other hand substantially no unintended bending may occur during the standing or straightened position. Stability is generally achieved by knee joints which make use of kinematic multiple rod systems, wherein at least four rods are applied. Such four-rod mechanisms are however relatively large and therefore less acceptable cosmetically. Another drawback is that the length of the lower leg in the sitting or bent and the standing or straightened position is generally not the same. This is perceived as very unpleasant by the patient.
Aspects relating to comfort are particularly associated with the means for fixing the prosthesis to the stump. The known leg prostheses comprise for instance an elongate tube of synthetic resin which is pushed over the stump. The drawback of such synthetic resin tubes however is that they produce transpiration and irritation. In addition, removal of the tube from the stump is not simple and unpleasant. Such tubes are particularly unsuitable for exarticulations because the patient here still has the thicker extremity of the bone. Tubes can really only be employed effectively in the case of a slightly tapering stump.
As already stated above, the part of the prosthesis replacing the amputated extremity also has to fulfill two important requirements. In the case of leg prostheses the shock occurring when the prosthesis is set down must be absorbed. In addition, a rotating of the foot relative to the stump can occur during movement of the body. During walking for instance the foot will be turned 10.degree. inward and 10.degree. outward, while during kneeling the rotation is even 45.degree.. Means have already been proposed to absorb the torsional stress caused by this rotation. While such systems allow a rotation of between 10.degree. and 20.degree., the occurring torsional stresses limit this angle to a few degrees. This is insufficient, particularly for kneeling.
The present invention has for its object to provide a prosthesis with which the problems occurring in the known prostheses or components thereof are obviated, and which is comfortable, cosmetically acceptable and easily manageable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This is achieved by the invention with a prosthesis comprising two prosthesis parts connected for mutual movement and actuable means for locking respectively releasing the prosthesis parts relative to each other. The locking means provide sufficient stability, while the structural size of the prosthesis remains small so that no cosmetic problems occur. The prosthesis parts are preferably connected for mutual movement by means of an artificial joint which consists of a first joint par
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Cool Jan Constant
Lemmers Landoaldus Gerhardus
Ambroise Holland B.V.
Willse David H.
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