Patent ID: 7641700
Filing Date: 2010-01-05
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
1. A joint device for an artificial leg, comprising: an upper member; a lower member spaced from said upper member; an actuator connected between said upper member and said lower member, for accumulating energy generated by a weight of a user's body acting on the artificial leg, and operating by releasing the accumulated energy to actuate said lower member into joint motion; and control means for controlling release of the accumulated energy to control operation of said actuator, wherein said actuator has an upper cylinder, a lower cylinder, a connecting pipe communicating with said upper and lower cylinders to form an oil passage filled with hydraulic fluid for operation of said actuator, and a switching valve mounted on said connecting pipe for opening and closing said oil passage, wherein said control means opens and closes said switching valve to thereby control said actuator in respect of at least one of an operational speed and an operational timing, wherein said actuator comprises a plurality of actuators connected to different locations on said upper member and said lower member, and wherein said control means controls said actuators such that said actuators operate differently in respect of at least one of the operational speed and the operational timing, so as to cause the joint motion in a direction different from a direction in which the weight of the user's body acts.