Abstract:
A position deviation adjustment apparatus for a prosthesis is provided. The position deviation adjustment apparatus includes a connecting member, a plate lid, an adjustment base, and a receptacle base. The connecting member is concentrically assembled with the plate lid. Then the assembled connecting member and plate lid together are assembled to the adjustment base. The adjustment base is then concentrically fixed to the receptacle base. When the connecting member and the plate lid are not yet fixed, they can be radially moved relative to the adjusting base, for aligning a center line of the connecting member and a center line of the receptacle base. Thereafter, the connecting member and the plate lid are fixed to the adjusting base.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates generally to a position deviation adjustment apparatus for a prosthesis, and more particularly, to a position deviation adjustment apparatus having a movable and rotatable mechanism for adjusting relative positions of components of a prosthesis in accordance with a change of the barycenter of human body. 
         [0003]    2. The Prior Arts 
         [0004]    People with amputation due to severe trauma, vascular diseases, or congenital limb deficiency etc. need prostheses.  FIG. 7  illustrates a major prosthetic assembly, which includes a receptacle barrel C, a connector A, and a pylon B having a receptacle base B 1 . The receptacle barrel C, the connector A, and the pylon B have their respective center lines C 1 , A 1 , and B 2 . Theoretically, the three central lines C 1 , A 1 , and B 2  should be well-aligned with one another in the prosthetic assembly. However, in practical design, the three central lines C 1 , A 1 , and B 2  have to be adjustable to accommodate different people&#39;s desires. The three central lines C 1 , A 1 , and B 2  generally end up not so aligned with one another perfectly in practical use. Therefore, it is desired to design a prosthesis that can be adjusted in the three central lines according to patient&#39;s physical condition. 
         [0005]    Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , there is shown a conventional prosthesis structure having a position deviation adjustment apparatus. The conventional prosthesis structure includes a first structural element D, and a second structural element E. The first structural element is configured with a center line D 1  and an opening D 2 . The first structural element has four sidewalls, each having a threaded hole D 3  configured thereon. The second structural element E is integrally formed, including a round lid E 1  jointed with a connecting member E 2 , a body E 3 , and a cone shaped member E 4  configured on the body E 3 . The cone shaped member E 4  of the second structural element E can be accommodated in the opening D 2  of the first structural element D, and is adapted for forward, backward, leftward, rightward, and rotating movements inside the opening D 2  of the first structural element D for aligning the center line E 5  of the second structural element E with the center line C 1  of the receptacle barrel C, and then driving four screws F to engage with the threaded holes D 3  to check with the surface of the cone shaped member E 4  so as to fix the second structural element E to the receptacle barrel C. When the receptacle base B 1  is connected with the connecting member E 2 , the center line B 2  of the pylon B can be correspondingly aligned with the center line C 1  of the receptacle barrel C. 
         [0006]    Although capable of solving the problem that the pylon B cannot be aligned with the receptacle barrel C, the foregoing position deviation adjustment apparatus unfortunately raises two critical safety problems. The first one safety problem is that because the cone shaped member E 4  of the second structural element E is much smaller than the opening D 2  of the first structural element D, when the second structural element E deviates relative to the opening D 2 , a screw F in one of the threaded holes D 3  which is farther distant from the cone shaped member E 4  will correspondingly extend longer than usual for checking surface of the cone shaped member E 4 . In this case, the screw F has much less area in contact with the threaded hole, and a slipped thread may occur therebetween, so that an end of the screw F may be unable to substantially check the surface of the cone shaped member E 4  as desired, as shown in  FIG. 9A , and further causes a looseness of the second structural element E, or even causes the problem that the center line B 2  of the pylon B cannot be aligned with the center line C 1  receptacle barrel C. The second one safety problem is that once the cone shaped member E 4  is adjusted to a cornermost position as shown in  FIG. 9B , all screws F are contacted with the cone shaped member E 4  with the least contact areas, in which the cone shaped member E 4  is least fixed by the screws F so that the cone shaped member E 4  is likely to move or rotate and the user may fall down. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    A primary objective of the present invention is to provide a solution to the problem of the conventional position deviation adjustment apparatus for a prosthesis, that is the engagement between the second structural element and the receptacle barrel may become loose and disengaged when fixing these two elements. 
         [0008]    For achieving the foregoing objective, the present invention provides a position deviation adjustment apparatus for a prosthesis. The position deviation adjustment apparatus includes a connecting member, a plate lid, an adjustment base, and a receptacle base. The connecting member is concentrically assembled with the plate lid. Then the assembled connecting member and plate lid together are assembled to the adjustment base. The adjustment base is then concentrically fixed to the receptacle base. When the connecting member and the plate lid are not yet fixed, they can be radially moved relative to the adjusting base, for aligning a center line of the connecting member and a center line of the receptacle base. Thereafter, the connecting member and the plate lid are fixed to the adjusting base. 
         [0009]    Accordingly, the position deviation adjustment apparatus of the present invention includes a connecting member, a plate lid, an adjustment base, and a receptacle base. A round hollow pillar is provided over the connecting member. The round hollow pillar of the connecting member is inserted sequentially through a round through hole of the plate lid, and a longitudinal through hole of the adjusting base, and then locked by a fixing member. When the round hollow pillar of the connecting member is locked by the fixing member, the plate lid is firmly clamped by the adjustment base and the connecting member, and is prevented from radially moving or rotating. When the lock between the fixing member and the round hollow pillar of the connecting member is unlocked, the connecting member is allowed to radially move along a longitudinal direction of the longitudinal through hole, and the plate lid is allowed to move correspondingly. Meanwhile, the connecting member and the plate lid can be rotated relative to the adjustment base. The adjustment base further includes an adjustment base hollow pillar, for being assembled in an opening of the receptacle base, and locking the adjustment base to the receptacle base with screws. 
         [0010]    The connecting member has a bottom end adapted for connecting with a first prosthesis structural element. The receptacle base has a top end adapted for connecting with a second prosthesis structural element. According to the present invention, the connecting member can be radially moved and rotated relative to the adjustment base, a relative position of the first prosthesis structural element and the second prosthesis structural element can be adjusted, so that the prosthesis user achieves a better wearing stability and comfort. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art by reading the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, with reference to the attached drawings, in which: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is an exploded side view of a position deviation adjustment apparatus for a prosthesis according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the position deviation adjustment apparatus illustrating an assembling relationship between main elements thereof, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is an assembled side view of the position deviation adjustment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is an assembled cross-sectional view of the position deviation adjustment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the position deviation adjustment apparatus of  FIG. 4  taken along line V-V; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a top view from a connecting member of the position deviation adjustment apparatus; 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is an exploded side view illustrating a set of conventional prosthesis components; 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is an exploded side view of a conventional position deviation adjustment apparatus; 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of the conventional position deviation adjustment apparatus of  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 9A  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 9  taken along line IXA-IXA; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 9B  is a schematic diagram illustrating the condition that the cone shaped member is adjusted to a cornermost position, and all screws are contacted with the cone shaped member with the least contact areas. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0023]    The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
         [0024]      FIG. 1  is an exploded side view of a position deviation adjustment apparatus for a prosthesis according to an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the position deviation adjustment apparatus illustrating an assembling relationship between main elements thereof, according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the position deviation adjustment apparatus for a prosthesis according to a preferred embodiment includes a connecting member  1 , a plate lid  2 , an adjustment base  3 , a fixing member  4 , and a receptacle base  5 . 
         [0025]    The connecting member  1  includes a middle portion  11  having a maximum diameter, a connection head  12  configured beneath the middle portion  11  for connecting with the a first prosthesis element  6 , a hollow pillar  13  on the middle portion, and a threaded hole  131  extending from the hollow pillar  13  to the connection head  12  through a center part of the connecting member  1 . Preferably, the hollow pillar  13  of the connecting member  1  is round shaped. 
         [0026]    The plate lid  2  is configured with a through hole  21  having a shape corresponding to the shape of the hollow pillar  13  of the connecting member  1  at a center of the plate lid  2 . The through hole  21  of the plate lid  2  is adapted to configure a loose fit with the hollow pillar  13  of the connecting member  1 . The through hole  21  of the plate lid  2  is configured with a step edge  22  concentric with the through hole  21  at a peripheral edge of the through hole  21 . According to an aspect of the embodiment, it is preferred to configure a plurality of saw teeth (not shown in the drawings) at an upper surface of the plate lid  2 . 
         [0027]    The adjustment base  3  includes a base side  31  having a diameter greater than the plate lid  2 . The base side  31  is configured with a longitudinal through hole  311  extending along diametric direction of the base side  31  at a center of the base side  31 . The longitudinal through hole  311  has a width slightly greater than an outer diameter of the hollow pillar  13  of the connecting member  1 , so as to allow the hollow pillar  13  and the longitudinal through hole  311  configuring a loose fit. According to an aspect of the embodiment, the longitudinal through hole  311  can also be configured with a rectangular shape. The base side  31  is configured with a hollow pillar  32  of the adjustment base  3  at an end surface center. The hollow pillar  32  of the adjustment base  3  has a free end having a diameter greater than a diameter of a root portion of the hollow pillar  32 , so that the hollow pillar  32  of the adjustment base  3  is configured with a cone shape. Preferably, the base side  31  is configured with a plurality of saw teeth, and the saw teeth of the base side  31  are adapted for meshing each other. 
         [0028]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, the fixing member  4  is a screw which can be locked into the threaded hole  131  of the connecting member  1 . The fixing member  4  can be locked into the threaded hole  131  of the connecting member  1  from an upside of the adjustment base  3 , so as to assemble the connecting member  1 , the plate lid  2  and the adjustment base  3  together. 
         [0029]    The receptacle base  5  includes an opening  51  configured at a bottom side and having a certain depth. The depth and an inner diameter of the opening  51  are equivalent to a height and the outer diameter of the hollow pillar  32  of the adjustment base  3 . The receptacle base  5  has a peripheral sidewall  52 . The receptacle base  5  is further configured with a plurality of threaded holes  521  extending from an outside of the peripheral sidewall  52  to the opening  51 . The threaded holes  521  are equidistantly distributed on the peripheral sidewall  52 . Each of the threaded holes  521  is geared with a screw  53 . An upper end of the receptacle base  5  is provided for connecting a second prosthesis element  7 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0030]    The first prosthesis element  6  and the second prosthesis element  7 , for example can be a calf prosthesis and thigh prosthesis, respectively, or a calf prosthesis and a sole prosthesis, respectively. 
         [0031]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 5 , in assembling the foregoing elements, at first an upper end surface of the receptacle base  5  is fixed to the second prosthesis element  7 , or other prosthesis elements connected with the second prosthesis element  7 . Then, the connecting member  1 , the plate lid  2  and the adjustment base  3  are assembled together. In assembling these three parts, the hollow pillar  13  of the connecting member  1  is inserted through the through hole  21  of the plate lid  2  until the middle portion  11  of the connecting member  1  reaches the step edge  22  of the plate lid. Then, the hollow pillar  13  of the connecting member  1  extending out from the upper end surface of the plate lid  2  is inserted through the longitudinal through hole  311  of the adjustment base  3 . Then the fixing member  4  is locked into the threaded hole  131  of the connecting member  1 . When the fixing member is not firmly fixed, the hollow pillar  13  of the connecting member  1  can be moved within a range S defined by the longitudinal through hole  311 , by driving the middle portion of the connection member  1 . In such a way, the plate lid  2  can be moved relative to a surface of the adjustment base  3 , so that the center line  211  can achieve a positional deviation d from the center line  312  of the adjustment base  3 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . Then, the fixing member  4  is firmly locked. The gearing between the saw teeth of the adjustment base  3  and the plate lid  2  prevents a relatively rotation therebetween, and maintains the positional deviation d between the plate lid  2  and the adjustment base  3 . The adjustment base  3 , together with the plate lid  2  and the connecting member  1  connected thereto, is assembled to the receptacle base  5 , in which the upper end surface of the adjustment base  3  is overlapped with the bottom end surface of the receptacle base  5 . Because the inner diameter of the opening  51  of the receptacle base  5  is greater than the outer diameter of the hollow pillar  32  of the adjustment base  3 , the adjustment base  3  is allowed to rotate but not to translate relative to the receptacle base  5 , as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . As such, when the adjustment base  3  rotates, it drives the plate lid  2 , the connecting member  1  to rotate together relative to the center line of the receptacle base  5 . After rotating to adjust the position, screws  53  are geared in the threaded holes  521  one by one, so that the screws  53  check the outer surface of the hollow pillar  32  of the adjustment base  3 . The outer diameter of the hollow pillar  32  of the adjustment base  3  is cone shaped, and when the hollow pillar  32  of the adjustment base  3  is received in the opening  51  of the receptacle base  5 , the hollow pillar  32  of the adjustment base  3  is very close to the inner surface of the opening  51  of the receptacle base  5 . Therefore, the hollow pillar  32  of the adjustment base  3  can be substantially uniformly disposed inside the opening  51 , so as to allow the end surface of each screw  53  uniformly checking the outer surface of the hollow pillar  32  of the adjustment base  3 . In such a way, the adjustment base  3  can be well fixed in the opening  51 . And finally, the connection head  11  of the connecting member  1  is assembled to the first prosthesis element  6  to complete the assembling process. 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 through 6  again, in order to avoid muscle strain and muscle fatigue caused by long time wearing a prosthesis, the present invention configures a longitudinal through hole  311  on the adjustment base  3 , which allows the hollow pillar  13  of the connecting member  1  moving along the longitudinal through hole  311 . In such a way, the center line  61  of the first prosthesis element  6  connected to the connecting member  1  can be aligned with the center line  71  of the second prosthesis element  7 . The adjustment base  3  can drive the connecting member  1  to rotate relative to the center line of the receptacle base  5 , so as to maintain the center line  61  of the first prosthesis element  6  well aligned with the center line  71  of the second prosthesis element  7 . Further, the present invention employs a plurality of threaded holes  521  equiangularly spaced at the receptacle base  5 . Each of the threaded holes  521  is locked with a screw  53 , for maintaining the screws  53  perpendicularly checking to the hollow pillar  32  of the adjustment base  3 , so as to prevent slippery checking, unfirm fixing of the adjustment base  3 . Specifically, according to an aspect of the embodiment, three threaded holes  521  are equiangularly configured at the receptacle base  5 . Each of the threaded holes  521  is locked with a screw  53 , so that the hollow pillar  32  of the adjustment base  3  is fixed by the three screws  53  in a manner of three-point fixing. 
         [0033]    Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that a variety of modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention which is intended to be defined by the appended claims.