Patent ID: 7520904

Claim:
An adjustable ankle device for a prosthetic foot, comprising: a) an upper portion configured to be coupled to a socket of an amputee; b) a lower portion, adjustably coupled to the upper portion, configured to be attached to a foot member; c) a movable coupling, disposed between the upper and lower portions, having an arcuate projection slidable in an arcuate slot oriented fore and aft with the arcuate projection having a shape corresponding to the arcuate slot, and defining an arcuate displacement path, such that the projection is constrained to slide fore and aft along the arcuate movement path, to restrict movement to: i) simultaneously in a downward and forward direction in which the lower portion simultaneously pivots downward and displaces forward relative to the upper portion; and ii) simultaneously in a rearward and upward direction in which the lower portion simultaneously pivots upward and displaces rearward relative to the upper portion; d) an actuator, coupled to the movable coupling, to move the upper and lower portions with respect to one another; e) a sensor, associated with the upper or lower portions, to sense frequency of contact, force of contact, or orientation of the upper portion or the lower portion, and to output a corresponding output signal; and f) a controller, coupled to the actuator and the sensor, to process the output signal of the sensor and engage the actuator in response to the output signal.