Patent ID: 9248031
Filing Date: 2016-02-02
CPC Classification: A61F,B25J

Claim Text:
1. A method for initiating and implementing a stair-climbing mode in a passive prosthetic knee joint connected to a prosthetic leg unit including a prosthetic foot, the method comprising: detecting with at least one sensor of the passive prosthetic knee joint a lift phase of the prosthetic foot, the at least one sensor generating sensor data; reducing a flexion damping level of the passive prosthetic knee joint in the lift phase in response to the sensor data to a level below that which is used by the passive prosthetic knee joint for walking on level ground; detecting a lowering phase of the prosthetic foot; increasing the flexion damping level of the passive prosthetic knee joint in the lowering phase to a level above that which is used for walking on level ground; maintaining the flexion damping level until a straightened hip is detected when in the lowering phase.