Patent ID: 6875240
Filing Date: 2005-04-05
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
1. A dynamic prosthetic foot having multiple load points and a pair of upper sections, comprising: a sole having a heel end and a toe end that are in substantially coplanar relation with one another; an upper member that overlies said sole, said upper member having a heel end and a toe end; said upper member heel end including a lateral anterior heel and a medial, posterior heel; said sole having a first convexity formed in said heel end that performs the function of the bottom of a natural heel; said sole having a concavity longitudinally spaced from said first convexity, said concavity performing the function of a natural arch; said sole having a second convexity longitudinally spaced from said concavity, said second convexity performing the function of the ball of a natural foot; an inflection point where a downward slope of said concavity meets an upward slope of said second convexity; said upper member having a pair of flat, transversely spaced apart, pylon supports formed in its heel end; said upper member having a first gradual ninety degree bend formed therein that separates said lateral, anterior heel from said upper member toe end and having a second gradual ninety degree bend formed therein that separates said medial, posterior heel from said upper member toe end so that said pylon supports are disposed substantially perpendicular to said sole, said lateral, anterior heel and said medial, posterior heel separating from said sole along a parting line that is transverse to a longitudinal axis of said prosthetic foot, said parting line being about mid-length of said concavity; said pylon supports including a lateral, anterior pylon support and a medial, posterior pylon support; an elongate slot formed in said upper member, said elongate slot substantially coincident with the longitudinal axis of said prosthetic foot and said elongate slot extending from an uppermost end of said heel end of said upper member to said inflection point; said elongate slot dividing said upper member into a pair of upper sections that respond substantially independently to forces acting upon said upper member; whereby forces acting on said lateral, anterior pylon support are substantially confined to said lateral, anterior pylon support and forces acting on said medial, posterior pylon support are substantially confined to said medial, posterior pylon support; whereby forces appearing on said lateral, anterior pylon support are similar to forces appearing on a fibula of a natural leg; whereby forces appearing on said medial, posterior pylon support are similar to forces appearing on a tibia of a natural leg; whereby forces acting upon a lateral section of said upper member are substantially attenuated when transmitted to the medial section of said upper sections; and whereby forces acting upon a medial section of said upper member are substantially attenuated when transmitted to the lateral section of said upper member.