Patent ID: 7785373
Filing Date: 2010-08-31
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
1. A prosthetic knee and lower leg assembly comprising: a residual thigh attachment plate; a shin frame pivotally connected to the residual thigh attachment plate; and a suspension strut coupled to both said residual thigh attachment plate and a lower portion of said shin frame, said suspension strut having a hydraulic chamber within an externally-threaded main body, a plunger shaft which slides within said hydraulic chamber, a coil spring which biases the plunger shaft to a fully-extended position, an air valve coupled to the hydraulic chamber for injecting compressed air into that chamber for providing additional bias on said plunger shaft, an internally-threaded spring retention collar which engages said externally-threaded main body, said internally-threaded spring retention collar enabling tension on said coil spring to be adjusted, and a trunnion unit affixed to said suspension strut for pivotally coupling the latter between said residual thigh attachment plate and said shin frame, said suspension strut dynamically storing energy as said shin frame is pivoted from an extended position to a bent position, and releasing energy as it is pivoted from the bent position to the extended position, thereby simulating the function of the quadriceps during sporting applications such as skiing, rock climbing and surfing.