Prosthesis (i.e. – artificial body members) – parts thereof – or ai – Leg – Socket holder
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-08
2001-11-06
Willse, David H. (Department: 3738)
Prosthesis (i.e., artificial body members), parts thereof, or ai
Leg
Socket holder
C623S038000, C623S053000, C264S101000, C264S263000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06312475
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field Of The Invention
The present invention relates to prosthetic limbs. More particularly, the present invention relates to an adaptor which can be fitted onto a prosthesis for the lower leg, so that the prosthesis may be secured to an ankle joint or prosthetic foot through a mechanical connection.
2. General Background
In the area of prosthetic limbs, one of the requirements in meeting the durability and wearability of the prosthesis is to assure that the lower limb prosthesis which would normally extend from the knee to the ankle may be secured on its lower end to a prosthetic foot while the upper end is accommodating the stump of the wearer. In the present state of the art, there are two general types of prostheses that are utilized. The first would involve a laminated type of lower limb prosthesis, and the second type would be a drape molded plastic prosthesis. In both cases, the prosthesis would accommodate the stump of the wearer in an upper cup portion, and the lower end would have a fixation means for attaching to an ankle joint or prosthetic foot. In the current state at the art, this fixation between the lower limb prosthesis and, for example, the prosthetic foot, would either be through clamping or a chemical bonding technique of gluing. Therefore, there is a need in the art for an attachment other than clamping or chemical bonding, such as gluing, which would allow a wearer to secure the lower end of the prosthesis to the ankle or foot.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
The apparatus of the present invention solves the problems in the art in a simple and straight forward manner. What is provided is an adaptor which may be secured to the lower end of a lower limb prosthesis which would allow the lower limb prosthesis to be secured to an ankle joint or prosthetic foot with a mechanical locking or anchoring type of fixation. What is provided is the lower limb prosthesis winch would include an upper socket portion for receiving the stump of the wearer, a limb portion which extends from the socket portion down to approximately the ankle portion of the wearer, and an adaptor portion. The adaptor portion would further include a triangulated base adaptor portion which would be mechanically secured to the lower end of the prosthetic ankle or foot. There would be further included a second barb portion extending upward from the base portion for securing to the lower end of the prosthetic limb, and would define an area between the barb portion and the base portion, so that when the adaptor is fabricated onto the limb through either a lamination process or a drape molding process, the adaptor is secured more firmly against the limb during the fabrication process. Further, there is included a threaded bushing secured within a bore of the base portion, for threadingly engaging the base portion to the upper end of the ankle and/or prosthetic foot of the wearer. Pinhole apertures are provided through the adaptor to place the channels in fluid communication with the interior of the adaptor. A vacuum applied to the interior of the adaptor sucks limb material deeper into the channels for a more secure anchorage by barbed shaped adaptor to the lower end of the prosthetic limb.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3422462 (1969-01-01), Finnieston
patent: 5507837 (1996-04-01), Laghi
patent: 5728171 (1998-03-01), Bryant et al.
patent: 2 101 254 (1972-07-01), None
patent: 353 510 (1990-02-01), None
patent: 1487 897 (1989-06-01), None
Willse David H.
Young & Basile P.C.
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