Patent ID: 8298294

Claim:
A method for controlling an orthopedic foot which has a connection part for a lower leg, a swivel joint which acts as an ankle joint, a foot part rotatably connected to said swivel joint configured to rotate in a direction of dorsiflexion and a direction of plantar flexion relative to said connection part, a damping arrangement influencing rotational movement of said foot part about said swivel joint, a sensor arrangement for detecting action states of said foot part, and a control unit connected to said sensor arrangement which controls said damping arrangement, comprising the steps of: measuring, in said orthopedic foot with said sensor arrangement, values proportional to i) torque occurring at said ankle joint by a moment or torque sensor, ii) ankle angle between said connection part and said foot part, by an angle sensor and iii) an absolute angle of said foot part with respect to a plumb line by an inclination or acceleration sensor which determines the inclination relative to the gravitational force relative to the perpendicular; and controlling said damping arrangement as a function of only said i) torque, ii) ankle angle, and iii) absolute angle measurements determined in said measuring step, during each of i) heel-toe motion of said foot part in a stance phase of walking, ii) positioning of said foot part in a swing phase of walking, and iii) positioning and movability of said foot part whilst standing, wherein said step of controlling is performed exclusively by passive control.