Patent ID: 7578852
Filing Date: 2009-08-25
Classification: A61F,A61K

Abstract:
1. A longitudinally extending foot keel for a prosthetic foot, the foot keel comprising: a hindfoot portion having a posterior plantar surface weight bearing area, a forefoot portion having an anterior plantar surface weight bearing area and an upwardly arched midfoot portion monolithically formed with the forefoot portion and extending between the forefoot and hindfoot portions, wherein a posterior end of the upwardly arched midfoot portion is monolithically formed with a single coil extending downwardly with a posterior facing convexly curved surface from the upwardly arched midfoot portion and extending anteriorly with a downward facing convexly curved surface to form a coiled spring which terminates in a free end, the coiled spring being compressed to absorb and expanded to return vertical load during use of the foot keel in a prosthetic foot, and wherein an anterior end of the hindfoot portion includes an expansion joint hole extending through said hindfoot portion of the foot keel between dorsal and plantar surfaces thereof with an expansion joint extending posteriorly from said expansion joint hole to a posterior edge of the foot keel to form plural expansion struts which create improved biplanar motion capability of the posterior weight bearing area in the prosthetic foot in gait.